perhaps
perhaps は英検3級・TOEIC 600レベルの英単語で、「おそらく、たぶん」という意味があります。発音記号は /pɚˈhæps/ です。
意味一覧 (2件)
おそらく
解説 Definition
「perhaps」は、もしかするとやおそらくという意味を表す副詞で、不確実さや可能性を示す場面で使います。断言を避けて柔らかく伝えたいときの表現として用いられ、会話全体を穏やかな印象にする効果があります。推測や提案の仕方を丁寧にしたいときに好まれます。
Perhaps means maybe or possibly. It is used when you are not completely sure about something and want to show uncertainty in a polite or thoughtful way. It is common in both speaking and writing.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
このエントリでは perhaps を「おそらく」として、やや硬めに推測を述べる響きで覚えます。基本義の「たぶん」より文章向きで、判断を少し控えめに示したいときに合います。He is perhaps the best. のように評価の前に置くと、「断言は避けるが、かなりそう思う」という落ち着いた推量になります。maybe の気軽さではなく、丁寧で慎重な言い方に結びつけてください。
Memorize it as one chunk: `please + call me + back`. `Call me` is simple, and `back` adds the idea of returning the call. Compare it with `call me later`, which means later, but not necessarily in reply to a missed call.
例文
Perhaps we should leave a little earlier to avoid traffic.
渋滞を避けるために、もう少し早く出発した方がいいかもしれない。
He is perhaps the most talented musician of his generation.
彼はおそらく彼の世代で最も才能のあるミュージシャンだ。
Perhaps you could help me with this difficult problem.
もしかしたら、この難しい問題を手伝ってもらえますか？
たぶん
(意味 2)解説 Definition
確信はないが、そうである可能性があると考えるときに使う副詞です。会話や文章で予想・推測・控えめな提案を述べる場面に向き、断定を避けてやわらかく伝えます。
Perhaps is an adverb used when you think something may be true but you are not fully sure. It is common when giving a guess, making a suggestion, or saying something in a soft and careful way. It helps you avoid sounding too direct or too certain, and it can appear at the beginning of a sentence or before a phrase such as "perhaps the best."
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
perhaps は maybe に近い「たぶん」と覚えると入りやすい語です。maybe より少し丁寧で書き言葉にもなじみ、probably ほど「高い確率で」とは言い切りません。Perhaps + 文、または文中で perhaps the best のように置かれ、判断に余白を残す働きをします。別エントリの「おそらく」はより硬め・推量の響きとして整理すると混同しにくいです。
You can learn perhaps as a word close to maybe, meaning "probably yes, but I am not certain." It is a little more polite and more natural in writing than maybe, but it is weaker than probably. Notice common patterns like "Perhaps + sentence" and "perhaps the best...," which leave some room for judgment instead of making a strong statement.
例文
Perhaps it will rain later, so take an umbrella.
たぶん後で雨が降るので、傘を持って行ってください。
This is perhaps the best time to ask her about the plan.
今がその計画について彼女に聞くのにたぶん最適な時です。
We could perhaps meet online first and discuss the details.
たぶん最初はオンラインで会って、詳しいことを話し合えます。
perhaps の語源・成り立ち Etymology
perhaps は中英語の句 per haps「ひとつの偶然によって」から生まれ、haps は古ノルド語系の hap「運・偶然」です。だから核となる感覚は「成り行きしだいで」で、happen や mishap にも同じ“偶然”の気配が残ります。
The main historical word is call, which comes from Old Norse kalla, meaning "to cry out" or "summon." Back comes from Old English and originally referred to the rear or something behind. Together, call back developed from the idea of "calling again in return," which later became common for returning a phone call; related words include recall and calling.
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