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.
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.
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...?")