Structure
おそらく + Phrase
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Formal
使用域
硬い
About おそらく
恐らく is an adverb which originally stems from the conjugation of the yodan verb, 恐る 'to fear'. In most cases, 恐らく is simply used as a formal way to say 'probably', or 'perhaps', and is usually partnered with other structures of conjecture such as だろう, かもしれない, etc.
As 恐らく behaves adverbially, it will most often appear at the beginning of sentences before a statement of conjecture is made.
As 恐らく behaves adverbially, it will most often appear at the beginning of sentences before a statement of conjecture is made.
- 妻は今夜会社の人たちと飲み会に行くと言っていたので、おそらく11時ごろぐらいまでは帰ってこないと思います。My wife said she was going to a drinking party tonight with some people from work, so she probably won't be home until around 11:00 or so.
- あいつの不自然な行動からして、おそらくあいつが犯人だろう!Judging by that guy's unnatural behavior, he's probably the culprit!
- おそらく明日は雨かもしれないので、明日予定していたピクニックは中止しましょう。Perhaps it may rain tomorrow, so let's cancel the picnic we had planned for tomorrow.
Fun-fact - yodan, or 四段活用 verbs are a type of classical-Japanese verb that have primarily been replaced by godan (う-Verbs) in modern day Japanese.
Synonyms
Examples
おそらく彼はここにいないだろう。
He most likely isn't here.
おそらく明日雨が降る。
Perhaps it will rain tomorrow.
彼だったら、おそらくこんなことできっこないでしょう。
If it's him, he most likely won't be able to do it.
私の兄はおそらく11月頃アメリカから帰ってくるでしょう。
My older brother will probably return home from the US around November.
代表者によりますと大統領はおそらく再選にねらうまい。
According to a representative, the president will most likely not aim for re-election.
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Tobira
Page 261
Tobira (Gateway to Advanced Japanese)
Page 218-3
新完全マスター文法、N2
Page 92-5
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