“May” in Chinese

Posted on by tiffany

OneDotDot Chinese
Grammar · HSK 2
Grammar Point · HSK 2

可能 kěnéng — “may” / “possibly”

可能 kěnéng expresses possibility. Use it to say that something is likely or might be true.

May in Chinese 可能 kěnéng

可能 kěnéng goes right after the subject and before the verb or adjective, just like “may” or “probably” in English.

1Structure

S + 可能 kěnéng + V / Adj

明天míngtiān可能kěnéng会huì下雨xiàyǔ
It may rain tomorrow.
我wǒ可能kěnéng感冒gǎnmào了le，身体shēntǐ不bú太tài舒服shūfu
I may have caught a cold. I’m not feeling well.
这zhè咖啡kāfēi可能kěnéng太tài甜tián，我wǒ不bù小心xiǎoxīn放fàng太tài多duō糖táng
This coffee may be too sweet. I accidentally put in too much sugar.
今晚jīnwǎn可能kěnéng很hěn冷lěng，你nǐ穿chuān多duō一点yìdiǎn
It may be cold tonight, so dress a bit warmer.

Negative: 不可能 bù kěnéng vs. 可能不 kěnéng bù

📌 Where 不 bù goes changes the meaning

不 bù before 可能 kěnéng means “impossible.” It’s a strong, certain “no way”:

我wǒ不bù可能kěnéng喜欢xǐhuan学xué英文yīngwén
It’s impossible for me to like learning English.

不 bù after 可能 kěnéng means “may not.” It’s only a guess:

他tā可能kěnéng不bú会huì来lái了le
He may not come anymore.

Questions

Add 吗 ma at the end, or use the A-not-A form 可不可能 kě bù kěnéng.

他tā可能kěnéng借jiè我wǒ钱qián吗ma？
Is it possible for him to lend me money?
你nǐ觉得juéde我wǒ可kě不bù可能kěnéng考kǎo过guòHSK3？
Do you think it’s possible for me to pass HSK 3?

2Common Mistakes

❌ 他tā不bù可能kěnéng会huì来lái
✅ 他tā可能kěnéng不bú会huì来lái
To say “he may not come,” put 不 bù after 可能 kěnéng. 不可能 bù kěnéng means “it’s impossible,” which is a much stronger claim.
❌ 明天míngtiān下雨xiàyǔ可能kěnéng
✅ 明天míngtiān可能kěnéng会huì下雨xiàyǔ
可能 kěnéng goes before the verb, not at the end of the sentence.

3Practice

Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.

01He may be busy, so he didn’t see your message.
他tā可能kěnéng在zài忙máng，所以suǒyǐ没méi看kàn你nǐ的de消息xiāoxi。
👆 Tap to reveal
02He was probably asleep, so he didn’t answer your call.
他tā可能kěnéng睡shuì了le，所以suǒyǐ没méi接jiē你nǐ的de电话diànhuà。
👆 Tap to reveal
03He probably doesn’t love you anymore, so he’s sleeping next to me.
他tā可能kěnéng不bú爱ài你nǐ了le，所以suǒyǐ他tā睡shuì在zài我wǒ的de旁边pángbiān。
👆 Tap to reveal
04The teacher may be late today.
老师lǎoshī今天jīntiān可能kěnéng会huì迟到chídào。
👆 Tap to reveal
05That’s impossible!
那nà不bù可能kěnéng！
👆 Tap to reveal
06She may not like this gift.
她tā可能kěnéng不bù喜欢xǐhuan这zhè个ge礼物lǐwù。
👆 Tap to reveal
07Could he be at home now?
他tā现在xiànzài可能kěnéng在zài家jiā吗ma？
👆 Tap to reveal
08We might go to Taiwan next year.
我们wǒmen明年míngnián可能kěnéng会huì去qù台湾Táiwān。
👆 Tap to reveal

Related Grammar

→Expressing the future — 会 huì & 要 yào(HSK 1) →Yes-No Questions — 吗 ma, 不 bù & 没有 méiyǒu(HSK 1)

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