Meaning of 说不定
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- can't say for sure
- maybe
How to use 说不定
As a verb phrase it means "it's hard to say," and as an adverb it means "maybe, perhaps," often hinting that something is quite possible. It usually comes before the verb or at the start of a clause. Example: 他说不定已经走了。(Tā shuōbudìng yǐjīng zǒu le.) He may have already left.
说不定 is literally 说 (shuō, to say) + 不 (bù, not) + 定 (dìng, fixed, settled): you "can't say it's settled." If you can't say for sure, then maybe it will happen.
Common mistake: Learners often read 不 here as bù with a full fourth tone. In 说不定 it is usually neutral, so say shuōbudìng with the stress on 定. Also, 说不定 leans toward "quite possibly," so don't use it for something you think is unlikely.
说不定 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
说 shuō · to speak · 9 strokes
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不 bù · no · 4 strokes
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定 dìng · to fix · 8 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 说不定.
| 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon; to let (sb) down; to disappoint |
| 是不是 | shì bu shì | is or is not (used to form yes-no questions) |
| 不用 | bùyòng | need not |
| 说话 | shuōhuà | to speak; to say |
| 不大 | bù dà | not very (clear, far away etc); not too; not often; infrequently |
| 不对 | bùduì | incorrect; wrong |
| 不客气 | bù kèqì | you're welcome; don't mention it |
| 不要 | bùyào | don't!; must not |
| 一定 | yīdìng | surely; certainly; definitely; fixed; settled |
| 不过 | bùguò | only; merely |
| 不错 | bùcuò | correct; right |
| 不行 | bùxíng | won't do; be out of the question |
Questions about 说不定
What does 说不定 mean?
说不定 (shuōbudìng) means "can't say for sure; maybe" and is used as a verb and adverb.
How do you write 说不定?
说不定 is made of 3 characters: 说 (9 strokes), 不 (4 strokes), 定 (8 strokes). That is 21 strokes in total.
Is 说不定 an HSK word?
Yes. 说不定 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 说不定 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 说不定 is written 說不定.
What is the difference between 说不定 and 可能?
可能 (kěnéng) is a neutral "possibly" and can also be a noun meaning "possibility." 说不定 is more colloquial and suggests the speaker thinks the outcome could easily happen. It can also stand alone to mean "Who knows."
Can 说不定 be used on its own as a reply?
Yes. If someone asks 他会来吗? (Tā huì lái ma? Will he come?), you can simply answer 说不定。(Shuōbudìng.) It means "Hard to say" or "Maybe."