5 Ways to Say “Maybe” in Chinese

Speak like a local 💬

Let's continue to explore Chinese language in common, daily life situations.

Today, let's look at the times when you'll need to say "maybe" or "I'm not sure" - and express your uncertainty about something.

Take a look at these 5 phrases for both formal and informal conversations 👇

5 Ways to Say "Maybe"

              

1. 有可能 (Yǒu kěnéng)

The most common way to express possibility in Chinese is 可能 kěnéng - "perhaps, maybe".

To say that "there is a chance" something might happen, say:

有可能

Yǒu kěnéng

Maybe; there is a chance (that)…

(lit. "have-possibility")

 EXAMPLE 

A: 今天会下雨吗？

A: Jīntiān huì xià yǔ ma?

A: Will it rain today?

B: 有可能。

B: Yǒu kěnéng.

B: Possibly (it might rain).

2. 不一定 (Bùyídìng) 

To add a little bit less certainty to your answer, use the phrase:

不一定

Bùyídìng

Not necessarily; not certainly

(lit. "not-certainly")

 EXAMPLE 

A: 今天会下雨吗？

A: Jīntiān huì xià yǔ ma?

A: Will it rain today?

B: 不一定。

B: Bùyídìng.

B: Not necessarily.

3. 说不定 (Shuōbudìng)

To express that something is completely a matter of chance - with unpredictable results - say:

说不定

Shuōbudìng

Who knows; it's hard to say

(lit. "tell-not-certain")

You can use this phrase on its own, or within a sentence:

 EXAMPLE 

你带把伞吧，说不定会下雨。

Nǐ dài bǎ sǎn ba, shuōbudìng huì xià yǔ.
Take an umbrella with you, just in case it rains.

4. 看情况 (Kàn qíngkuàng)

Whenever the result of a situation depends on some external factors - out of your control - you can say:

(要)看情况

(Yào) kàn qíngkuàng

It depends

(lit. "(need)-see-situation")

 EXAMPLE 

这个不一定，要看情况。

Zhè gè bùyídìng, yào kàn qíngkuàng.

That's not necessarily the case; it depends on the situation.

5. 也许 (yěxǔ)

Finally, let's look at a little bit more formal, but elegant way to say "maybe":

也许

yěxǔ

Perhaps

It can be used interchangeably with 可能 (kěnéng), just in formal situations.

 EXAMPLE 

你试试吧，也许能成功。

Nǐ shìshi ba, yěxǔ néng chénggōng.

Give it a try, maybe it will work.

(lit. "you-try-try-ba, perhaps-can-succeed")

Bonus 💡

              

And if you like visual explanations - here's a way to think of possibilities in Chinese from 0% to 100%:

Not so difficult, right?

Try at least one (or all) of these phrases in your future conversations 💬

Practice with Teachers

              

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