说不定
HSK 6- Modal verbs
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Used to express the possibility that something may happen, similar to 'perhaps' or 'who knows'.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
The adverb 说不定 is used to speculate or estimate that something may possibly happen. It carries a colloquial, informal tone, more intimate than 可能. It can be loosely translated as "who knows," "maybe," or "perhaps," expressing uncertainty while still acknowledging possibility. It typically appears at the beginning of a sentence or before a verb.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 明天说不定会下雨。繁: 明天說不定會下雨。Míngtiān shuōbudìng huì xià yǔ.
It's uncertain whether it will rain tomorrow.
- 他怎么还没来？说不定堵车了。繁: 他怎麼還沒來？說不定堵車了。Tā zěnme hái méi lái? Shuōbudìng dǔchē le.
Why hasn't he arrived yet? He might be stuck in traffic.
- 别着急，说不定他一会儿就到。繁: 彆著急，說不定他一會兒就到。Bié zhāojí, shuōbudìng tā yīhuìr jiù dào.
Don't rush, he might arrive in just a moment.
- 这么晚了，说不定商店关门了。繁: 這麼晚了，說不定商店關門了。Zhème wǎn le, shuōbudìng shāngdiàn guānmén le.
It's so late, the store might be closed.
- 你再找找，说不定钥匙就在包里。繁: 你再找找，說不定鑰匙就在包裡。Nǐ zài zhǎozhao, shuōbudìng yàoshi jiù zài bāo lǐ.
You search again; the key might very well be in the bag.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我说不定他会来。Correct:说不定他会来。
说不定 is a fixed phrase functioning as an adverb and cannot be separated or used as the verb "说" (say).
- Wrong:他来不说不定。Correct:他说不定会来。
说不定 is an adverb that must precede the verb or predicate it modifies and cannot appear at the end of a sentence.