How to say "possibly" in Japanese

• どうやらJLPT N1approx.Common
  adverbHere 'possibly' means 'apparently, seemingly': the speaker states something as an impression formed from indirect evidence, not as a plain fact. Typical when reporting how a situation looks — 'apparently the train is delayed'.
  どうやら食べ過たべすぎたみたいだ。↗

  I'm afraid I've eaten too much.
• ひょっとしたらCommon
  expressionRaises 'possibly' as a chance that has just crossed the speaker's mind, often something unexpected. Essentially interchangeable with ひょっとすると; typical before a guess such as 'perhaps he has forgotten about it'.
  彼かれの予言よげんは、ひょっとしたら的中てきちゅうするかもしれない。↗

  His prediction might come true.
• ひょっとするとCommon
  adverbThe same chance-based 'perhaps, maybe, possibly' as ひょっとしたら, and the two are freely interchangeable. Use either to float a possibility without committing yourself to it.
  ひょっとすると明日あすは雨あめかもしれない。↗

  Perhaps it will rain tomorrow.
• もしかしてJLPT N1approx.Common
  adverbCovers 'possibly, maybe' and, as 'by any chance', often introduces a tentative question or hunch — 'could it be that...?'. Closely parallels もしかすると.
  ああ、もしかして名前なまえを呼よばれるのが恥はずかしいって？↗

  Ah, could it be you're embarrassed to be called by your first name?
• もしかするとJLPT N2approx.Common
  adverbThe same 'perhaps, possibly, maybe' as もしかして, with the flavor of 'by some chance'; the two are largely interchangeable when voicing a possibility you are not sure of.
  もしかすると彼かれは明日あす来くるかもしれない。↗

  He might come tomorrow.

Choose 「どうやら」 when 'possibly' really means 'apparently, seemingly' — an impression drawn from evidence; for a chance-based 'perhaps, maybe', 「ひょっとしたら」/「ひょっとすると」 and 「もしかして」/「もしかすると」 form two near-interchangeable pairs, the 「もしかして」 pair often opening a tentative question.

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

• どうやらpossibly
• ひょっとしたらpossibly
• ひょっとするとperhaps
• もしかしてperhaps
• もしかするとperhaps
• かもmay
• かもしれないmay
• かもしれませんmay
• かもしれんmay
• ひょっとpossibly
• ことによるとpossibly
• ことにするとperhaps
• もしやperhaps
• やもしれぬmay
• かもしんないmay
• かもしれずmay
• やもしれずmay
• かもしれぬmay
• やもしれないmay
• とうてい(cannot) possibly
• とてもじゃない(not) at all
• とてもとても(not) at all
• あるいはmaybe
• けだしpossibly
• 所詮しょせん(cannot) possibly