The Culture of Uncertainty and Maybe in the Japanese Language

Usually the Japanese don't claim something unless they are absolutely sure that it is correct. In this article, we are going to see some expressions that show how the Japanese do everything to say nothing without being sure of something. Japanese words help a lot in this regard, but this is all a matter of culture.

Like punctuality, the Japanese want to be responsible in their words and don't want to promise something where unforeseen or uncertainty can get in the way. They also don't want to give opinions that are sure to jeopardize the listener's decision.

The Japanese language loves ambiguity. Declarative sentences are not confident, but arrogant. Avoid making sure or asserting something that you are not 100% confident that it is correct. If you are confident you can say a nice もちろん.

Words like "perhaps, seems, may be, probably, possibly, I don't know or I think" they are also of great help when escaping from subjects and conversations.

Words that express uncertainty

A very common word for answering questions without being sure is the word taboo (多分) meaning "maybe and probably", which is usually placed in the middle of sentences. The word is written with ideograms which also express large amounts, which shows more certainty than uncertainty. This word can be used when you're not sure about something (maybe) or when you don't know if circumstances will allow it (probably).

Another popular word is kamoshirenai [かも知れない] or kamoshiremasen (formal). This function expresses that something “might” happen, but one is not sure. The word can be shortened to kamo [かも] in sentences, but it is quite informal. It can literally be translated to "maybe, may, may be or possibly".

Even when the Japanese are going to express their own opinion about something, they often use the expression I loved [...と思う] or I think [思います] which means I think, or I think. The Japanese avoid as much as possible that their opinions interfere in the lives of others.

Other words that express maybe or probably are: 

若しかしたら moshikashitara maybe, by chance
若しかして moshikashite maybe, possibly, could it be that, by chance, if I'm not mistaken
事にすると it depends maybe, possibly
かもね kamone maybe, could be
事によると koto ni yoru to maybe, possibly
ひょっとすると hyottosuruto perhaps; possibly
恐らく osoraku maybe, probably, dare I say
若しや moshiya perhaps, possibly, by some chance, by some possibility
蓋し kedashi maybe, probably

The Culture of Uncertainty and Maybe in the Japanese Language

Words that express some certainty

There are words that are used to express a certain level of certainty, close to tabun (多分). Some sentences even need both words to express themselves better. Let's talk about 2 endings that are gave and deshou.

Deshou (でしょう) can be literally translated as "seems, probably, I think, I wonder, I suppose and I hope". This expression can also be used as a question "don't you agree?", "don't you think?", don't you?".

Darou (だろう) means the same thing as (でしょう), except it sounds more masculine and is mostly used by men. Both words can sound informal depending on the way you say it, especially if you shorten it when pronouncing it.

Unlike kamoshirenai, darou and deshou cannot be used when talking about one's actions like "I think I'll go tomorrow". Kamoshirenai is used to express a sense of probability or doubt, it has more uncertainty than give and deshou.

The word deshou It is often used a lot in weather forecasting. The Japanese don't say "tomorrow it will rain", but "it will probably rain tomorrow".

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example sentences

Let's see some examples below:

Japanese Romaji Portuguese 
トムは多分眠っている。 Tomu wa tabun nemutte iru Tom is probably sleeping.
多分彼女は来るでしょう。 Tabun kanojo wa kurudeshou. Maybe she will.
多分君が正しいのだろう。 Maybe you are right.  Perhaps you are right.
その食べ物はおいしいでしょう。 Sono tabemono wa oishīdeshou. This food looks delicious (I think)
明日は晴れでしょう。 Ashita wa haredeshou.  Tomorrow will probably be sunny
君もパーティに行くだろう? How about you, are you going to the party?  You're going to the party aren't you? (Am I right?)
何か悪いことが彼にふりかかるかも知れない。  He may have something bad coming his way.  Something bad can happen to him
私は間違ったのかも知れない。  Watashi wa machigatta no kamo shirenai.  I may have made a mistake.
 彼の言ったことは本当かも知れない。  Kare no itta koto wa hontō kamo shirenai.  What he said may be true.

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