Probably in Chinese – Dàgài

Grammar Point:
The phrase 大概 dàgài is used in Chinese to express a sense of uncertainty or probability. It is commonly used to convey the idea that something might be the case but isn’t certain.

Structure

S + 大概 dàgài + V

你nǐ大概dàgài明天míngtiān8 點diǎn打dǎ給gěi我wǒ你nǐ大概dàgài明天míngtiān8 点diǎn打dǎ给gěi我wǒ
You’ll probably call me around 8 o’clock tomorrow.

昨天zuótiān的de派對pàiduì大概dàgài有yǒu3 成chéng的de外國人wàiguórén昨天zuótiān的de派对pàiduì大概dàgài有yǒu3 成chéng的de外国人wàiguórén
Yesterday’s party probably had about 30% foreigners.

別bié聽tīng他tā說shuō， 他tā大概dàgài是shì嫉妒jìdù你nǐ别bié听tīng他tā说shuō， 他tā大概dàgài是shì嫉妒jídù你nǐ
Don’t listen to him, he’s probably just jealous of you.

我的wǒde手機shǒujī大概dàgài只zhǐ能néng再zài撐chēng半小時bànxiǎoshí我的wǒde手机shǒujī大概dàgài只zhǐ能néng再zài撑chēng半小时bànxiǎoshí
My phone probably has only about half an hour left.

颱風táifēng轉zhuǎn弱ruò， 明天míngtiān大概dàgài不會búhuì放fàng颱風假táifēngjià了le台风táifēng转zhuǎn弱ruò， 明天míngtiān大概dàgài不会búhuì放fàng台风假táifēngjià了le
The typhoon is weakening, so there probably won’t be a typhoon day off tomorrow.

你nǐ未接wèijiē你nǐ太太tàitai的de10 通tōng電話diànhuà， 回家huíjiā大概dàgài要yào跪算盤guìsuànpán了le你nǐ未接wèijiē你nǐ太太tàitai的de10 通tōng电话diànhuà， 回家huíjiā大概dàgài要yào跪算盘guìsuànpán了le
You missed 10 calls from your wife, you’ll probably have to explain at home.

FYI
The phrase 跪算盤盘 guì suànpán in Chinese is a humorous and slightly sarcastic slang phrase that conveys the idea of someone being in trouble, often due to making a mistake, doing something wrong, or encountering an unfavorable outcome. The literal translation of 跪算盤盘 guì suànpán is “kneel and count abacus,” which creates a vivid imagery of someone being in a submissive or apologetic posture while counting on an abacus, as if calculating their mistakes or wrongdoings. This phrase is used metaphorically to describe someone who may need to offer explanations, apologies, or make amends for their actions or decisions.

電梯diàntī超chāo臭chòu的de， 大概dàgài有人yǒurén踩cǎi到dào狗屎gǒushǐ电梯diàntī超chāo臭chòu的de， 大概dàgài有人yǒurén踩cǎi到dào狗屎gǒushǐ
The elevator smells really bad, someone probably stepped on dog poop.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ I’ve been learning Chinese for about 5 years.

我wǒ學xué中文zhōngwén大概dàgài學xué了le5 年nián我wǒ学xué中文zhōngwén大概dàgài学xué了le5 年nián

✔️ It takes about 7 minutes to walk to the café from here.

從cóng這裡zhèlǐ走zǒu到dào咖啡店kāfēidiàn大概dàgài7 分鐘fēnzhōng从cóng这里zhèlǐ走zǒu到dào咖啡店kāfēidiàn大概dàgài7 分钟fēnzhōng

✔️ This taste is a bit off, I think it’s probably spoiled.

這zhè味道wèidào怪怪的guàiguàide， 我wǒ想xiǎng大概dàgài是shì壞huài了le这zhè味道wèidào怪怪的guàiguàide， 我wǒ想xiǎng大概dàgài是shì坏huài了le