JLPT · Level 17
75 words
Japanese word
もしかすると
Pronunciation
Romajimoshikasuruto
Meaning
- adverbmaybe
Example
もしかすると明日は雨かもしれません。mo shi ka su ru to asu wa ame ka mo shi re ma se n
Maybe it will rain tomorrow.
More examples
もしかすると、電車は遅れるかもしれません。mo shi ka su ru to den sha wa oku re ru ka mo shi re ma se n
The train may be late.
Core concept
Marks a possibility as open without presenting it as certain.
Common phrases
もしかすると来るかもしれないmo shi ka su ru to ku ru ka mo shi re na i
may come
Similar words
たぶんtabun: It gives a fairly strong but nonabsolute indication that something is true or will happen.
おそらくosoraku: It indicates a likely conclusion in a somewhat formal way.
ひょっとするとhyottosuruto: It raises the possibility of an event that is not strongly expected.
Definition in Japanese
ある事柄が起こる可能性を、確定したこととしてではなく推測として示すこと。a ru koto gara ga o ko ru ka nō sei o kaku tei shi ta ko to to shi te de wa na ku sui soku to shi te shime su ko to
Word origin
The phrase もしかすると (moshikasuru to, "possibly") contains もしか (moshika, "if by any chance") and すると (suru to, "if it happens"), and its form suggests an uncertain result.
Usage tips
- In Japanese, もしかすると (moshikasuru to) can stand at the beginning of a sentence, so uncertainty is often announced before the topic or prediction itself.
Other meanings
- perhapsadverb
- possiblyadverb