かもしれない (kamo shirenai) vs だろう (darou)
What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
Use かもしれない for uncertain possibilities and だろう for probable assumptions. だろう is often used in casual conversations, while かもしれない is more neutral.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | かもしれない (kamo shirenai) | だろう (darou) |
|---|---|---|
| JLPT | N4 | N4 |
| Formality | neutral | casual |
| Certainty level | Expresses uncertainty or possibility | Expresses probability or likelihood |
| Formality | Neutral, suitable for formal or informal situations | Casual, often used in informal conversations |
| Speaker's attitude | More objective, simply stating a possibility | More subjective, implying a degree of confidence in the probability |
かもしれない (kamo shirenai)
JLPT: N4 | Formality: neutral
- Certainty level: Expresses uncertainty or possibility
- Formality: Neutral, suitable for formal or informal situations
- Speaker's attitude: More objective, simply stating a possibility
だろう (darou)
JLPT: N4 | Formality: casual
- Certainty level: Expresses probability or likelihood
- Formality: Casual, often used in informal conversations
- Speaker's attitude: More subjective, implying a degree of confidence in the probability
Example Sentences
かもしれない (kamo shirenai)
雨が降るかもしれない
ame ga furu kamo shirenai
It might rain
彼女はもう寝ているかもしれない
kanojo wa mou nete iru kamo shirenai
She might be sleeping already
この電車は遅れるかもしれない
kono densha wa okureru kamo shirenai
This train might be late
だろう (darou)
彼はもう来ているだろう
kare wa mou kite iru darou
He's probably here already
彼女は喜んでくれるだろう
kanojo wa yorokonde kureru darou
She'll probably be happy about it
このレストランはおいしいだろう
kono resutoran wa oishii darou
This restaurant is probably delicious
Common Mistakes
- ⚠ Using だろう in formal situations, where かもしれない is more suitable
- ⚠ Confusing the two expressions and using them interchangeably, without considering the level of certainty or formality
- ⚠ Using かもしれない to express high probability, when だろう is more appropriate
Memory Tip
💡 Remember that かもしれない has a 'maybe' feel, while どうろう has a 'likely' feel, and adjust your usage accordingly
Want all comparisons in one place?
Get the complete grammar comparison guide as a downloadable PDF.
Get the PDF Guide