〜かもしれない
Might / perhaps 〜かもしれない
Meaning
Expresses possibility — "might / perhaps / may". Indicates something is possible but not certain. Roughly equivalent to "maybe".
Formation
[plain form] + かもしれません (普通形 + かもしれません)
Notes
Often paired with もしかしたら / ひょっとすると ("maybe / perhaps"). Polite: かもしれませんです is WRONG — just かもしれません. Casual: かも (shortened).
Examples
明日（あした）は雨（あめ）が降（ふ）るかもしれません。
It might rain tomorrow.
Breakdown
彼（かれ）はもう来（こ）ないかもしれません。
He might not come anymore.
Breakdown
もしかしたら、明日（あした）は雪（ゆき）かもしれません。
Perhaps it might snow tomorrow.
Breakdown
あの人（ひと）は先生（せんせい）かもしれません。
That person might be a teacher.
Breakdown
明日（あした）は忙（いそが）しいかもしれませんから、早（はや）く寝（ね）ます。
I might be busy tomorrow, so I'll sleep early.
Breakdown
⚠️ Often confused with
〜そうだ (伝聞)
I heard that 〜そうだ (hearsay)
Hearsay — "I heard that ~ / they say that ~". Reports information obtained from another so...
〜そうだ (様態) / 〜そうに / 〜そうな
Looks like 〜そうだ (conjecture)
Visual conjecture based on appearance — "looks like ~ / seems about to ~". Based on what y...
〜らしい
Apparently / seems 〜らしい
Conjecture based on some evidence or hearsay — "apparently ~ / I hear that ~ / it seems ~"...
〜みたいだ / 〜みたいな / 〜みたいに
Looks like / seems 〜みたいだ
Conjecture based on appearance or impression — "it looks like ~ / it seems ~". More casual...
〜ようだ / 〜ような / 〜ように
Appears / seems 〜ようだ
Conjecture or resemblance — "it appears that ~ / it seems ~ / like ~". More formal than み...
〜はずだ / 〜はずです
Should be 〜はずだ (expectation)
A strong expectation based on logic or evidence — "should be ~ / ought to ~ / is supposed...
〜はずがない / 〜はずありません
Cannot be / no way 〜はずがない
Strong denial of possibility — "there's no way ~ / it cannot be that ~ / impossible". The...
〜に違いない
Must be 〜に違いない
A confident inference — "must be ~", "I am sure ~".
〜おそれがある
There is a risk that 〜おそれがある
"There is a risk / danger that ~".
〜かねない
Might well 〜かねない
"Might well ~", "could easily end up ~" — of a feared outcome.