I recently had a discussion with ChatGPT about the word 多分 (たぶん), which made me realize that WaniKani’s current translation may not be fully accurate.
Right now it says:
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Meaning – Primary: Maybe
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Alternatives: Perhaps, Probably
From what I’ve learned – and as Japanese dictionaries also indicate – the core meaning of 多分 is “probably”, not “maybe.”
Reasoning:
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Japanese dictionaries gloss 多分 as おそらく, which corresponds to “probably” in English.
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Example: 多分行けます。→ “I’ll probably be able to go.”
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If you want to say “maybe,” Japanese usually uses かもしれない, もしかしたら, or ひょっとすると.
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Also, the kanji composition itself makes more sense this way: 多 = many, 分 = parts/portion → “for the most part, most likely.” That etymology supports “probably,” not “maybe.”
The current WaniKani entry (“Primary: Maybe”) might mislead learners into thinking 多分 is the default equivalent of “maybe.” In reality, that’s too weak semantically.
My suggestion:
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Primary Meaning: Probably
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Alternatives: Maybe, Perhaps (depending on context)
That way, the core meaning is represented correctly, while still leaving room for contexts where 多分 can sound closer to “maybe.”