How to Say “Maybe” in Chinese
Feelings and opinions · HSK 2
"Maybe" in Chinese is 可能 (kě néng). 可能 (kěnéng) is the most common "maybe / possibly", works as adjective or adverb. 也许 (yěxǔ) is a softer, literary flavour often written more than spoken.
Primary translation
可能
kě néng
Variants by register
Casual
也许
yě xǔ
When to use it
可能 (kěnéng) is the most common "maybe / possibly", works as adjective or adverb. 也许 (yěxǔ) is a softer, literary flavour often written more than spoken. 说不定 (shuōbudìng, "cannot say for sure") is casual and slightly more confident than "maybe". To express uncertainty about agreement use 不一定 (bù yīdìng, not necessarily). Unlike English "maybe later" as polite rejection, Chinese 可能 is more neutral and not a soft "no".
Example sentences
明天可能下雨。
Míngtiān kěnéng xiàyǔ.
It might rain tomorrow.
也许他忘了。
Yěxǔ tā wàng le.
Maybe he forgot.
说不定他还在公司。
Shuōbudìng tā hái zài gōngsī.
Perhaps he is still at the office.