How to say "likely" in Japanese

• 多分たぶんJLPT N5approx.Common
  adverbCovers 'likely' in the sense of 'probably': an adverb for voicing a guess in everyday speech, as when predicting weather or someone's plans. It hedges a statement rather than describing something as a likely candidate.
  君きみにはたぶんみんなわかっていることでしょう。↗

  I expect you know all about it.
• ありそうCommon
  na-adjectiveCovers 'likely' in the sense of 'probable': something that seems likely to exist, happen, or be true. It voices an impression — the feeling that a place, story, or event is one you would expect.
  ぼくは興味きょうみありそうな風かぜをした。↗

  I put on an air of interest.
• 有力ゆうりょくJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'likely' for a strong contender: the leading candidate or most plausible explanation, backed by evidence or standing. Its other senses, 'strong' and 'powerful', show that it weighs prospects rather than merely guessing.

Use 多分 for 'probably' when guessing in conversation, 「ありそう」 when something merely seems likely to be or happen, and 有力 for a strong, leading candidate or explanation backed by evidence or standing.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 多分たぶんprobably
• ありそうprobable
• あり得るありうるpossible
• ありうべきpossible
• 蓋然的がいぜんてきprobable
• 確からしいたしからしいprobable
• おそらくprobably
• どうやらpossibly
• おそらくはprobably
• 有力ゆうりょくstrong
• 濃厚のうこうprobable