もしかしたら
🃏 Flashcard
もしかしたら
moshika shitara
Tap to reveal usage
perhaps; maybe; perchance; by chance
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
moshika shitara
Post ID
50871
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
perhaps; maybe; perchance; by chance
📖 How to use it
Expresses uncertainty or possibility, equivalent to 'maybe' or 'perhaps'.
Attaches to
Used at the beginning of a sentence, often followed by a clause ending in a verb or adjective form that indicates speculation, such as かもしれない, だろう, かも. It can also be used with と to mean 'by any chance'.
もしかしたら is an adverb that signals that what follows is uncertain. It is often paired with expressions like かもしれない (might be) or でしょう (probably) to soften the statement. It's commonly used in both speech and writing. When used with と, as in もしかしたら...かもしれない, it emphasizes the possibility more strongly.
もしかしたら、明日は雨が降るかもしれません。
Moshika shitara, ashita wa ame ga furu kamoshiremasen.
Maybe it will rain tomorrow.
もしかしたら、彼はもう帰ったかもしれない。
Moshika shitara, kare wa mou kaetta kamoshirenai.
He might have already gone home.
もしかしたら、その店は閉まっているかもしれません。
Moshika shitara, sono mise wa shimatte iru kamoshiremasen.
That shop might be closed, perhaps.
Not もしかして
もしかして is used when you are guessing something might be true, often in a question or when you suspect something. もしかしたら is more about pure possibility or conjecture. For example, 'もしかして、鍵を忘れた？' (Did you forget your keys, by any chance?) vs. 'もしかしたら、鍵を忘れたかもしれない' (I might have forgotten my keys).
Register
Neutral; used in both formal and casual contexts, but more common in spoken Japanese and everyday writing. It can be used in polite conversation when paired with かもしれません.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
もしかしたら
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat もしかしたら three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using もしかしたら. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern もしかしたら mean?
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Perhaps; maybe; perchance; by chance
What JLPT level is もしかしたら?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use もしかしたら in a sentence?
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Attach もしかしたら (moshika shitara) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is もしかしたら formal or casual Japanese?
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もしかしたら is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember もしかしたら long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.