たぶん

たぶん
adverb
probably, maybe
1. probably, perhaps, maybe
Indicates likelihood or probability. Suggests the speaker thinks something is likely but isn't certain.
たぶん明日(あした)は雨(あめ)でしょう。
It will probably rain tomorrow.
たぶん大丈夫(だいじょうぶ)だと思(おも)います。
I think it's probably okay.
たぶん来(こ)ないと思(おも)います。
I don't think they'll probably come.
「田中(たなか)さんは来(き)ますか。」「たぶん来(く)ると思(おも)いますが、わかりません。」
"Will Tanaka-san come?" "I think they'll probably come, but I'm not sure."
たぶん電車(でんしゃ)が遅(おく)れたのでしょう。いつもは時間(じかん)どおりに来(く)る人(ひと)ですから。
The train was probably delayed. They're usually someone who arrives on time.

たぶん expresses probability (roughly 60-70% certainty). Can be written as 多分(たぶん).

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • たぶん〜でしょう: probably ~
  • たぶん〜と思(おも)う: I think probably ~
  • たぶん〜だろう: probably ~ (casual)

CERTAINTY SCALE (low to high):

  • もしかしたら: maybe, perhaps (~30%)
  • たぶん: probably (~60-70%)
  • おそらく: probably (formal, ~70%)
  • きっと: surely, certainly (~80-90%)
  • 絶対(ぜったい)に: absolutely, definitely (~100%)

USAGE:
Placed at the beginning of a sentence or before the verb/predicate. Very common in everyday speech.

KANJI:
多分(たぶん) - the kanji literally means 'much/many portion.'

basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:22 · Revised 2026.2.19 10:02
00500/00815_tabun