可能性がある【かのうせいがある】

可能性がある (かのうせいがある) expresses that there is a possibility of something happening or being the case. It translates to "there is a possibility that…", "it is possible that…", or "may/might". While the core meaning is straightforward, this expression is characteristic of formal, analytical, or objective language – commonly found in news reports, academic writing, medical contexts, and serious discussions.

Basic usage

A clause in plain form modifies かのう可能せい性 (possibility) directly, followed by がある to indicate that such a possibility exists.

Modifying the degree of possibility

The degree of likelihood can be adjusted with adverbs or adjectives that modify either かのう可能せい性 or the overall sentence:

• 高い / 大きい (high/large): かのうせいがたかい可能性が高い – the possibility is high
• 低い / 小さい (low/small): かのうせいがひくい可能性が低い – the possibility is low
• 十分 (sufficient): じゅうぶん十分なかのう可能せい性がある – there is a sufficient possibility
• ある程度の (a certain degree): あるていどある程度のかのう可能せい性がある – there is some possibility

Negative form

To express that there is no possibility, use かのう可能せい性がない or the more emphatic かのう可能せい性はない:

Polite and formal variations

In polite speech, がある becomes があります. In more formal writing, がかんがえられる考えられる (can be considered) or がしてき指摘されている (has been pointed out) may replace がある.

Comparison with かもしれない

Both 可能性がある and かもしれない express possibility, but they differ in register and nuance. かもしれない is more conversational and subjective ("maybe…"), while 可能性がある is more objective and analytical, often used when assessing risks, outcomes, or probabilities in a detached manner.