ひょっとすると
ひょっとすると
adverb
perhaps; possibly; maybe
1.
perhaps; possibly; maybe
Expresses the speaker's guess or speculation that something might be the case. Conveys a sense of uncertainty with a slight feeling of surprise or unexpectedness.
ひょっとすると雨かもしれない。
It might rain.
ひょっとすると彼はもう帰ったのかもしれない。
Perhaps he has already gone home.
ひょっとすると来年の春には転勤になるかもしれません。
I might possibly be transferred next spring.
USAGE:
ひょっとすると is used when the speaker considers something to be possible but uncertain. It often pairs with かもしれない at the end of the sentence.
RELATED FORMS:
- ひょっとしたら — slightly more casual variant with the same meaning
- ひょっとして — used when making a guess, often as a question ("Could it be that...?")
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ひょっとすると〜かもしれない (it might be that...)
- ひょっとすると〜ではないか (could it be that...)