How to say "possibility" in Japanese

• 見込みみこみJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounCovers 'possibility' in the sense of prospects or chances looked at with hope or expectation, as in the likelihood that plans will work out. It leans on the hopeful, promising side of the English word.
  そんな計画けいかくはほとんど成功せいこうする見込みこみはありません。↗

  Such a plan can hardly succeed.
• 可能性かのうせいCommon
  nounThe core word for 'possibility' as the abstract chance or likelihood that something may happen or be true. When you simply mean there is a possibility of rain, success, or change, this is the word you want.
  彼女かのじょが電車でんしゃに乗のり遅おくれた可能性かのうせいはあるでしょうか。↗

  Might she have missed her train?
• ポシビリティCommon
  nounA loanword matching 'possibility' directly. It is far less typical in ordinary sentences than 可能性 and tends to appear in technical or imported contexts, so it is seldom the word you want for everyday use.
• 可否かひCommon
  no-adjectiveCovers 'possibility' only in the narrow sense of whether something can or should be done — its feasibility, advisability, or right and wrong. For a chance that something will happen, it is really the wrong word.

Use 可能性 for a neutral chance that something may happen, 「見込み」 for an expected or hoped-for outlook, 可否 for whether something is feasible or advisable, and 「ポシビリティ」 as a rarer loanword alternative.

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

• 見込みみこみhope
• 可能性かのうせいpossibility
• ポシビリティpossibility
• 可否かひpropriety
• 発展性はってんせいpossibility
• めchance (of success)