Maybe...(Part. 2)
Maybe... (Part 2)
As noted last time, the word "maybe" is overused in Japan and this is not good because it is sometimes unclear. I experienced a good example of this recently when I was at the movies with someone. She dropped some food and, as I bent down to help her pick it up (because I am so thoughtful!), I knocked her drink on her (because I am so clumsy!). It made a stain on her shirt. I was concerned about the stain so I emailed her and asked if it came out when she washed the clothes. Her reply? You guessed it! She wrote, "Maybe it came out". So, I still had no idea if the stain was gone or not.
WHEN TO USE "MAYBE"
You might be wondering, well, when can we use "maybe"? Since "maybe" is a word of probability (あり得ること), we usually use it when giving our opinion of the outcome of future events ("It's raining...maybe the picnic will be cancelled") or guessing at the possible reason for past events ("Maybe he was sick and that's why he couldn't come"). It is also useful for suggestions ("Oh, you're having trouble with a co-worker? Maybe you should talk to her about it?") Please note that, when you say "maybe", we usually only use it once in a sentence, usually at the beginning (not the end!). Also, please don't say "maybe" when you mean "たぶん". The meaning of "たぶん" is closer to "probably", which we can see in the chart below is about 80% certain. "Maybe" is closer to "もしかすると", "ひょっとすると", "ことによると", "あるいは", "かもしれない", or "そうかもしれない" in Japanese and is less certain than "probably", around 60%.
There are many ways to talk about certainty (確実性). Below is a chart listing some ways, ranked in order of certainty (確実性の高い順にソートされる). As you can see, there are two types of situations. One is a situation that we can control (for example, whether we go to a party or not) and the other is a situation we cannot control (for example, whether it will rain tomorrow or not). So, the first situation is giving our answer and the second situation is giving our opinion. It is more important for our answer to be clear in the first situation: if someone invites us to a party and asks us if we can come, "maybe" is not only not clear, it might seem rude! In this situation, a clear "yes" or "no" is best.
* "Perhaps" is more widely used in British English than in North American English, where "maybe" is more common. "Perhaps" seems a little formal to most North American speakers.
By the way, the story (about the spilled drink) has a happy ending. She meant to say, "It seems like it has come out. but I haven't checked it by wearing it outside yet."
投稿者：管理者 日時：09月26日 4：53 ｜パーマリンク
