HSK 5
说不定
shuōbudìng
maybe
Structure
说不定 + (Subject) + Clause / Verb Phrase
How it works
The word '说不定' is used to express uncertainty or a possibility, similar to 'perhaps' or 'maybe' in English. It can function as an adverb or a verb, suggesting that a situation is not fixed or a result is unpredictable.
Examples
现在出发，说不定还能赶上最后一班车。
Xiànzài chūfā, shuōbudìng hái néng gǎnshàng zuìhòu yì bān chē.
If we leave now, maybe we can still catch the last bus.
他没接电话，说不定正在开会呢。
Tā méi jiē diànhuà, shuōbudìng zhèngzài kāihuì ne.
He didn't answer the phone; perhaps he is in a meeting.
这件事很难说，谁也说不定最后的答案。
Zhè jiàn shì hěn nán shuō, shuí yě shuōbudìng zuìhòu de dá'àn.
This matter is hard to say; no one can say for sure what the final answer is.
Common mistakes
Don't confuse '说不定' with '不一定'. While both imply uncertainty, '说不定' leans towards 'maybe something will happen,' whereas '不一定' means 'not necessarily' or 'not certain.'
Tip
Think of '说不定' as a more casual and versatile version of '也许' (yěxǔ) or '可能' (kěnéng). You can often place it at the beginning of a clause.
More HSK 5 grammar
See 说不定 in real Chinese
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