“Maybe” in Chinese – shuōbudìng

Grammar Point:
說说不定 shuōbudìng is an idiom in Chinese that means “perhaps” or “maybe.” It is used to indicate uncertainty or possibility.

Structure

shuōbudìng + V

說不定shuōbudìng他們tāmen已經yǐjīng到dào了le说不定shuōbudìng他们tāmen已经yǐjīng到dào了le
Maybe they have arrived.

明天míngtiān說不定shuōbudìng會huì下雨xiàyǔ，你nǐ最好zuìhǎo想xiǎng一個yíge備案bèiàn明天míngtiān说不定shuōbudìng会huì下雨xiàyǔ，你nǐ最好zuìhǎo想xiǎng一个yíge备案bèiàn
It might rain tomorrow, so you’d better have a backup plan.

這zhè件jiàn事shì說不定shuōbudìng還hái會huì改變gǎibiàn这zhè件jiàn事shì说不定shuōbudìng还hái会huì改变gǎibiàn
This matter might still change.

說不定shuōbudìng下xià個ge億萬富翁yìwànfùwēng就是jiùshì你nǐ说不定shuōbudìng下xià个ge亿万富翁yìwànfùwēng就是jiùshì你nǐ
You might be the next millionaire.

晚餐wǎncān別bié等děng我wǒ， 我wǒ說不定shuōbudìng趕gǎn不bù回來huílái晚餐wǎncān别bié等děng我wǒ， 我wǒ说不定shuōbudìng赶gǎn不bù回来huílái
Don’t wait for me for dinner, I might not be able to make it back in time.

按照ànzhào她的tāde個性gexìng， 說不定shuōbudìng會huì放fàng我們wǒmen鴿子gēzi按照ànzhào她的tāde个性gexìng， 说不定shuōbudìng会huì放fàng我们wǒmen鸽子gēzi
Given her personality, she might stand us up.

FYI
In Chinese culture, the phrase 放鴿鸽子 fàng gēzi is used to describe a situation where someone agrees to meet or attend an event but then doesn’t show up, similar to standing someone up. It comes from the old practice of pigeon racing, where the first pigeon to return home wins. However, some people would cheat by luring away other pigeons. If someone’s pigeon doesn’t return after a race, it’s like they’ve been stood up by their pigeon.

In Northern China

In northern China, people more commonly use “說不準说不准 shuōbuzhǔn” rather than “說说不定 shuōbudìng,” but in my opinion, the two words are interchangeable. But some people have different views; they believe that “說说不定 shuōbudìng” carries a sense of expectation for it to come true, while “說不準说不准準 shuōbuzhǔn” is neutral.

你nǐ再zài試shì一次yícì，說不準shuōbuzhǔn這次zhècì就jiù成功chénggōng了le你nǐ再zài试shì一次yícì，说不准shuōbuzhǔn这次zhècì就jiù成功chénggōng了le
You can give it another try; you might succeed this time.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ He may know more than you think.

他tā知道zhīdào的de事shì說不定shuōbudìng比bǐ你nǐ想xiǎng的de多duō他tā知道zhīdào的de事shì说不定shuōbudìng比bǐ你nǐ想xiǎng的de多duō

✔️ I’m just asking to see if you might be interested.

我wǒ只是zhǐshì問問看wènwènkàn， 想說xiǎngshuō說不定shuōbudìng你nǐ會huì有yǒu興趣xīngqù我wǒ只是zhǐshì问问看wènwènkàn， 想说xiǎngshuō说不定shuōbudìng你nǐ会huì有yǒu兴趣xīngqù

✔️ Although it’s not certain yet, I might resign next year.

雖然suīrán還hái不bú確定quèdìng， 但是dànshì我wǒ明年míngnián說不定shuōbudìng會huì辭職cízhí虽然suīrán还hái不bú确定quèdìng， 但是dànshì我wǒ明年míngnián说不定shuōbudìng会huì辞职cízhí