Chinese word

或许

Pronunciation

Pinyinhuò xǔ

Meaning

  • adverbmaybe

Example

他或许不在家。tā huò xǔ bú zài jiā

Maybe he is not at home.

Illustration for 或许 (maybe)

More examples

明天或许会下雨。míng tiān huò xǔ huì xià yǔ

Maybe it will rain tomorrow.

Core concept

Marks a considered possibility while leaving room for another outcome.

Common phrases

  • 或许会huò xǔ huì

    may

  • 或许是huò xǔ shì

    may be

  • 或许可以huò xǔ ké yǐ

    may be able to

Similar words

可能kě néng: Shows that an event or state has a chance of happening or being true.
也许yé xǔ: Suggests that something may be true even though certainty is lacking.
大概dà gài: Suggests a rough estimate of what is likely to happen or be true.
估计gū jì: Expresses a likely conclusion drawn from the situation or known information.

Definition in Chinese

用于表达说话人对某事不确定但认为有一定可能性的判断，可用于句首或动词前。yòng yú biǎo dá shuō huà rén duì mǒu shì bú què dìng dàn rèn wéi yǒu yí dìng kě néng xìng de pàn duàn kě yòng yú jù shǒu huò dòng cí qián

Word origin

或许 (huòxǔ, "perhaps") uses 或 (huò, "possibly") together with 许 (xǔ, "perhaps"), so the compound presents an outcome as possible rather than certain.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, this word gives a statement a measured tone rather than a blunt claim, which makes it useful when discussing plans, guesses, or incomplete information.

Other meanings

  • probablyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word