maybe

たぶん、もしかすると

あることが本当かもしれない、または起こるかもしれないと示す。

やさしい英語で： Used to say that something might be true or might happen.

• Maybe she is at home.
• We can maybe visit you tomorrow.
• Maybe I left my keys in the car.

類義語： perhaps, possibly

よく使う表現： maybe tomorrow, maybe next time, maybe you should, maybe try again

確かに

ためらうような言い方で、実はかなり明らかだとほのめかす。

やさしい英語で： Used with an uncertain tone to suggest that something is actually quite clear.

• That was maybe a little rude!
• Spending all our rent money was maybe not your smartest move.
• You were maybe just slightly unfair to her, wouldn’t you say?

よく使う表現： maybe just slightly, maybe a little

未定

はいともいいえともはっきり言わず、まだ決まっていないとする返答。

やさしい英語で： An answer that does not clearly say yes or no.

• Her answer was a maybe.
• We received three yeses and two maybes.
• I need a decision, not another maybe.

よく使う表現： a definite maybe, answer with maybe

可能性

起こるかもしれないが、確かではないこと。

やさしい英語で： Something that might happen but is not certain.

• The trip is still a maybe.
• A promotion next year remains a big maybe.
• Too many maybes make it hard to plan.

類義語： possibility

反対語： certainty

よく使う表現： a big maybe, still a maybe