🤔✅

How to Say ‘That might be so’ in Japanese

そうかもしれないですね

sou ka mo shire nai desu ne

[soh ka mo shee-REH nah-ee dess neh]

💬 Usage Tip: かもしれない means "might" and attaches straight onto a word: 雨かもしれない "it might rain". In casual speech it often shrinks to just かも.

Phrase Breakdown

そうかも

sou ka mo

that might be so

そう = 'so', かも = 'maybe'. Say 'sou kamo'.

Example

雨かも。

It might rain.

Words in this phrase

そう

sou

[soh]

so; that way

Used to refer to something just said, like 'so' or 'that's right.'

Example

そうおもうひとがおおいです。

Many people think so.

か

[ka]

question particle

Indicates a question with previous verb.

Example

飲みませんか？

Won't you drink?

も

[mo]

also; even

Part of でも, adding the nuance of something like or maybe.

Example

コーヒーでも飲みましょう。

Let's have coffee or something.

しれないですね

shire nai desu ne

(it) might be, right

This completes かもしれない ('might be'). ですね makes it polite and agreeable.

Example

遅れるかもしれないですね。

We might be late.

Words in this phrase

しれ

shire

[shee-REH]

know (part of かもしれない)

Stem of 知れる; in かもしれない it forms 'might, maybe'.

Example

雨が降るかもしれない。

It might rain.

ない

nai

[nah-ee]

not

Negative ending attached to verbs.

Example

今日は行かないです。

I am not going today.

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite copula

A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

ね

[neh]

right?; isn't it?

A sentence-ending particle used to seek agreement or show shared feeling.

Example

いいてんきですね。

Nice weather, isn't it?

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