Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 也許 / 也许 | yěxǔ |
| 或許 / 或许 | huòxǔ |
| 或是 | huòshì |
| 可能 | kěnéng |
All these terms are used to indicate a lack of certainty.
What does it mean word for word?
In the form 也許 / 也许 (yěxǔ), the word is composed of 也 (also/even) and 許 (to allow/to permit), though in modern usage it is treated as a single lexical unit meaning 'perhaps'.
Which one should you use?
While 也許 / 也许 and 或許 / 或许 are strictly adverbs meaning 'maybe', 可能 can function as both an adverb ('maybe') and a modal verb ('can' or 'may'). 或是 is typically used to present alternatives, functioning more like 'or' in English.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
或許 / 或许 is a common formal way to convey 'maybe' and is slightly more formal or literary than 也許 / 也许. 可能 is widely used in both formal and informal contexts. For a colloquial feel, speakers sometimes use the phrase 大概吧.
How does it change in a sentence?
When 可能 is used to mean 'maybe', it is often placed before the subject or the verb to indicate possibility.
How do you pronounce it?
yěxǔ
Did you know?
- In social contexts, saying 可能 (kěnéng) can be a polite way to decline an invitation without saying 'no' directly, allowing the speaker to save the other person's 'face'.
- The word 可能 originally meant 'to be able to' or 'competent' in Old Chinese, shifting from a description of ability to a description of possibility.
- In many contexts, adding the particle 吧 (ba) to the end of a phrase can turn a definitive statement into a tentative suggestion, effectively acting like 'maybe'.
Examples in context
- 可能明天吧。Maybe tomorrow.This example shows how to use 可能 to express a possibility regarding a time.Tatoeba #10537111 by GlossaMatik, translation #9264412 by ebel
- 我可能能幫你。Maybe I'll be able to help you.This example shows how to use 可能 to express a possibility regarding one's ability to help.Tatoeba #6103092 by verdastelo9604, translation #4011573 by CK
- 可能你应该放弃。Maybe you should just give up.This example shows how to use 可能 to express a possibility regarding a suggestion.Tatoeba #5617245 by verdastelo9604, translation #3818963 by CK
- 我们 或许 下个月会有个重要会议。Maybe we will have an important meeting next month.
- 他 可能 明天会来我们的聚会。He may come to our gathering tomorrow.
- 明天 也许 会下雪。It may snow tomorrow.
- 她 大概会 考虑参加我们的晚餐。She might consider joining our dinner.
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “maybe” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 可能, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
