Japanese with Manga

Might appear bigger with 〜かもしれない

Grammar Explanation: Might with 〜かもしれない

Manga panel from ご注文はうさぎですか？ showing example of Might appear bigger with 〜かもしれない.
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Due to Chino’s concerns about her height, Rize suggests a solution.

リゼ:
「声(こえ)が大(おお)きければ存在(そんざい)も大(おお)きく見(み)えるかもしれない」
“If your voice is loud, your presence might seem bigger too.”
Literal: “If your voice is big, your presence also might look big.”
ココア:
「錯覚(さっかく)ですか」
“An optical illusion?”

Key Points

1かもしれない keeps Rize’s proposal uncertain
  • Rize suggests that a louder voice might make Chino’s presence seem bigger, but she does not promise that it will work.
2声(こえ)が大(おお)きければ sets the condition
  • 〜ければ gives the “if” clause. For a voice, 大(おお)きい refers to loudness rather than physical size.
3存在(そんざい)も大(おお)きく見(み)える is figurative
  • Chino would seem more noticeable or commanding, not become larger in body.

Vocabulary

(Voice)

声(こえ) means a voice or an animal’s cry.

See Also

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