Usage patterns 恐おそ らく 〜 だろう probably ~ (plain speculative ending, matches 恐らく's tone)
He probably won't come today, I'm afraid.
恐おそ らく 〜 でしょう probably ~ (polite speculative ending)
It will probably rain tomorrow.
Related words· 6 多分 is a casual, everyday way to say 'probably' with somewhat less certainty, while 恐らく sounds more formal and often signals stronger confidence in an unwelcome conclusion.
きっと expresses the speaker's strong personal conviction or hope, whereas 恐らく is a more detached, reasoned estimate of probability.
もしかすると suggests only a slight possibility, while 恐らく indicates that something is quite likely to be true.
恐らく expresses a more confident, formal probability judgment, while どうやら sounds softer and more tentative, based on outward signs.
Show 2 more Show fewer おそらく is a more formal way to express strong probability, while まず in this sense is a lighter, more conversational way to say something is almost certain.
おそらく expresses a confident guess similar to 大方 , but is more neutral and common in speech, while 大方 sounds slightly more formal.
Written forms 恐おそ らく Usage 21%
Kanji form is common in formal writing, but the word is usually written in kana.
おそらく Usage 79%
Kana spelling is the most common and recommended for learners.
Etymology Derived from the adjective 恐ろしい (おそろしい , 'frightening') with the adverbial suffix く , originally meaning 'frighteningly' or 'in a way that causes fear', which shifted to 'probably' through the idea of something being so likely that it is almost frightening.
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