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What are the differences when using the following words/phrases to mean
"perhaps", "maybe" or "probably"?

  * 多分
  * 恐らく
  * 蓋し {けだし}
  * もしかして
  * ひょっとして
  * なかろう (negative -> probably not)
  * だろう / でしょう / であろう
  * かも知れない

Please add any other words/phrases that provide similar meanings.

_N.B I hope istrasci doesn't mind me using his favorite question title pattern
here :P_
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-09-09T08:56:46.173
3086
2011-09-09T10:24:17.953
2011-09-09T09:56:36.497
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question
word-choice nuances synonyms
Fun with synonyms - "perhaps/maybe/probably"
Well, the first problem is that they often mix together, and are thus rather
hard to tell apart…

Should I give exclusive nuances, I'd go like this:

  * 多分: Maybe. I don't know. 多分行きます。 (very often, 多分行くかもしれません)
  * 恐らく: has a negative nuance by the kanji. 恐らく雨が降る
  * 蓋し {けだし}: (never heard, I won't conjecture)
  * もしかして: By any chance, would it be possible that… もしかして、彼女だったの？ 
  * ひょっとして: Small, unimportant thing that may help you: ひょっとしたら、誰も気づかない 

  * かも知れない: way to round the corners, not to affirm too much. 彼が好きかもしれない。

なかろう / だろう / でしょう / であろう deserve their own question if it hasn't been done
yet, for it can mean many things. Basically, it can be a conjecture in which
you want people to know that you think like this (the cake you give to your
friend: おいしいでしょう？ The description of a party on facebook that happens it the
middle of a thursday afternoon: 誰も来ないだろう！)
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-09-09T10:24:17.953
3087
2011-09-09T10:24:17.953
356
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answer