In English, we often say things like “maybe it will rain” or “that might be true.” In Japanese, the word かもしれない is a powerful way to express uncertainty, possibility, or polite distance from a statement. It’s one of the most flexible and frequently used “hedging” expressions in the language.
かもしれない
Maybe / Might
JLPT Level: N4
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How to Use It
Use かもしれない when you are not certain about something. It attaches directly to nouns, adjectives, and the short form of verbs. You do not need to add だ or です before it in present-tense statements because it already implies uncertainty. For formal situations, use かもしれません. In casual conversation, you can shorten it to かも.
Usage Pattern
Noun + かもしれない
い-adjective + かもしれない
な-adjective + かもしれない
Verb (short form) + かもしれない
Example 1
明日は雪が降るかもしれません。
あした は ゆき が ふる かもしれません。
Ashita wa yuki ga furu kamoshiremasen.
It might snow tomorrow.
Example 2
あれはコヨーテだったかもしれない。
あれ は こよーて だった かもしれない。
Are wa koyōte datta kamoshirenai
That might have been a coyote.
Example 3
彼は忙しいかもしれない。
かれ は いそがしい かもしれない。
Kare wa isogashii kamoshirenai.
He might be busy.
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