“Must”, “Certainly”, and “Maybe” in Chinese

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, the translations for “must,” “certainly,” and “maybe” are 必須须 bìxū, 一定 yídìng, and 也許许 yěxǔ. But they do have some overlap parts.

Structure

All three of these words are adverbs in Chinese, which means they are not placed like in English where you put them before the subject or at the end of the sentence. In Chinese, most of cases, they must be positioned before the verbs and after the subjects.

必須/必须 bìxū

必須须 bìxū can be translated as “must” or “have to.” It indicates a strong obligation or requirement. And it emphasizes that something is necessary and must be done.

你nǐ必須bìxū完成wánchéng這zhè個ge報告bàogào你nǐ必须bìxū完成wánchéng这zhè个ge报告bàogào
You must complete this report.

我wǒ必須bìxū先xiān去qù銀行yínxíng存錢cúnqián我wǒ必须bìxū先xiān去qù银行yínxíng存钱cúnqián
I must go to the bank to deposit money first.

政府zhèngfǔ必須bìxū為wèi這zhè件jiàn事shì負責fùzé政府zhèngfǔ必须bìxū为wèi这zhè件jiàn事shì负责fùzé
The government must take responsibility for this matter.

小強xiǎoqiáng必須bìxū死sǐ！ 小强xiǎoqiáng必须bìxū死sǐ！
Cockroach must die!

FYI
小強 xiǎo qiáng is a common term used to refer to a cockroach in Chinese. The name 小強 xiǎo qiáng literally translates to “Little Strong” or “Little Powerful.” The reason it has become synonymous with cockroaches is due to a popular Hong Kong movie in which the main character caught a cockroach and kept it as a pet, naming it 小強 xiǎo qiáng. Over time, the term 小強 xiǎo qiáng has been widely adopted by Chinese speakers as a colloquial and humorous way to refer to cockroaches.

媽媽māma不bú必須bìxū做飯zuòfàn妈妈māma不bú必须bìxū做饭zuòfàn ❌
Mom doesn’t have to cook.
(The negation of 必須 bìxū is “不需要 bù xūyào,” not “不必須 bú bìxū “)

媽媽māma不bù需要xūyào做飯zuòfàn妈妈māma不bù需要xūyào做饭zuòfàn ✅
Mom doesn’t need to cook.

一定 yídìng

一定 yídìng can be translated as “must,” “necessarily”or “certainly.” It expresses a high degree of certainty or assurance. And it emphasizes that something is definitely going to happen or be true.

我們wǒmen一定yídìng會huì通過tōngguòHSK2 我们wǒmen一定yídìng会huì通过tōngguòHSK2

我wǒ一定yídìng要yào在zài5 點diǎn前qián到dào機場jīcháng我wǒ一定yídìng要yào在zài5 点diǎn前qián到dào机场jīcháng

她tā一定yídìng要yào吃chī那nà家jiā麵包店miànbāodiàn的de蛋糕dàngāo嗎ma？ 她tā一定yídìng要yào吃chī那nà家jiā面包店miànbāodiàn的de蛋糕dàngāo吗ma？

努力nǔlì的de人rén不bù一定yídìng會huì成功chénggōng努力nǔlì的de人rén不bù一定yídìng会huì成功chénggōng
Hardworking people do not necessarily guarantee success.

你nǐ一定yídìng不是búshì台灣人Táiwānrén， 你的nǐde中文zhōngwén很hěn奇怪qíguài你nǐ一定yídìng不是búshì台湾人Táiwānrén， 你的nǐde中文zhōngwén很hěn奇怪qíguài
You are definitely not Taiwanese; your Chinese is strange.

也許/也许 yěxǔ

也許许 yěxǔ can be translated as “maybe” or “perhaps.” It expresses uncertainty or possibility. And it suggests that something may or may not happen or be true. Another alternative choice is 可能 kěnéng.

明天míngtiān也許yěxǔ會huì下雨xiàyǔ明天míngtiān也许yěxǔ会huì下雨xiàyǔ
It might rain tomorrow.

我wǒ也許yěxǔ不能bùnéng去qù參加cānjiā派對pàiduì我wǒ也许yěxǔ不能bùnéng去qù参加cānjiā派对pàiduì
I might not be able to attend the party.

你nǐ說的shuōde也許yěxǔ是shì對的duìde你nǐ说的shuōde也许yěxǔ是shì对的duìde
What you said may be correct.

也許 yěxǔ is the exception that you can place it before the subjects.

也許yěxǔ你nǐ說的shuōde是shì對的duìde也许yěxǔ你nǐ说的shuōde是shì对的duìde
Perhaps what you said is correct.

也許yěxǔ我們wǒmen都dōu錯cuò了le也许yěxǔ我们wǒmen都dōu错cuò了le
Perhaps we are all wrong.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ I think she might have misunderstood you.

我wǒ覺得juéde她tā可能kěnéng誤會wùhuì你nǐ了le我wǒ觉得juéde她tā可能kěnéng误会wùhuì你nǐ了le

✔️ You need to explain it to her clearly.

你nǐ必須bìxū跟gēn她tā解釋jiěshì清楚qīngchǔ你nǐ必须bìxū跟gēn她tā解释jiěshì清楚qīngchu

✔️ She must also be waiting for you to call her.

她tā一定yídìng也yě在zài等děng你nǐ打dǎ電話diànhuà給gěi她tā她tā一定yídìng也yě在zài等děng你nǐ打dǎ电话diànhuà给gěi她tā