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.
"Will Tanaka-san come?" "I think they'll probably come, but I'm not sure."
たぶん expresses probability (roughly 60-70% certainty). Can be written as 多分.
COMMON PATTERNS:
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 - the kanji literally means 'much/many portion.'
Related Words
Contrast:
きっと (surely (~80-90%))
Contrast:
おそらく (probably (formal))
Related:
もしかすると (perhaps (lower probability))