1. used to say that something is possible or may be true
表示某事有可能或可能是真的
Maybe it will rain tomorrow.
也許明天會下雨。
She's late. Maybe she missed the bus.
她遲到了。也許她錯過了公車。
Maybe Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
maybe
adverb
快速理解
What does "Maybe" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Maybe"?
maybe 表示不確定性，用於表達可能性或提出建議。
- 1
表示可能性
EN: Perhaps; used to say something is possible.
翻譯: 或許、可能；用於表示某事有可能。
- 2
表示不確定的數量或程度
EN: Used before a number or amount to show it is approximate.
翻譯: 用於數字或數量前，表示大約、大概。
- 3
用於提出建議或禮貌請求
EN: Used to make a suggestion or polite request.
翻譯: 用於提出建議或禮貌的請求。
- 4
表示猶豫或讓步
EN: Used to express hesitation or to soften a statement.
翻譯: 用於表達猶豫或使語氣更委婉。
小提醒：maybe 是副詞，不要與動詞片語 may be 混淆。例如：'He maybe late' (X) 應改為 'He may be late' (O) 或 'Maybe he is late' (O)。
發音（How to Pronounce "Maybe" in English）
How to pronounce "Maybe" in English?"Maybe" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Maybe" from YouTube Videos
Steven Schwaitzberg: A universal translator for surgeons
TED
“We do about five million of these in the United States and maybe 20 million of these worldwide.”
(1 out of 390)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Maybe"?How does "Maybe" change by context?
2. used to give a polite or hesitant suggestion, opinion, or answer
用於提出禮貌或猶豫的建議、意見或回答
Maybe we should ask for directions.
也許我們應該問一下路。
"Are you coming to the party?" "Maybe."
「你會來派對嗎？」「也許吧。」
3. used to show that a number or amount is approximate
用於表示數字或數量是大概的
There were maybe thirty people at the meeting.
會議上大概有三十個人。
It will cost maybe fifty dollars.
這大概要花五十美元。
4. an uncertain possibility or chance
不確定的可能性或機會
It's a big maybe whether the project will be approved.
這個專案能否被批准還是個很大的未知數。
I don't need a definite answer now, just a maybe.
我現在不需要確定的答案，只要一個可能性就好。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Maybe"?How to make natural sentences with "Maybe"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| maybe + clause | 或許、可能 | Maybe she will call later. (也許她晚點會打來。) |
| maybe + not | 可能不、也許不會 | Maybe it's not such a good idea. (這可能不是個好主意。) |
| maybe + as a one-word response | 或許吧、可能喔 | "Will you go to the party?" "Maybe." (「你會去派對嗎？」「可能吧。」) |
| maybe + at the beginning of a suggestion | 或許（用於提出建議） | Maybe we should ask for help. (或許我們應該尋求幫助。) |
用法說明
How is "Maybe" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Maybe"?
maybe 與 perhaps 的用法區別
- maybe 在口語和非正式寫作中更為常見，語氣較為隨意。
- perhaps 則在正式書寫和演講中更常用，聽起來更為禮貌、謹慎或正式。
- 在句中的位置：maybe 通常置於句首或動詞前；perhaps 的位置較為靈活，可置於句首、句中或句末。
- 在提出建議、請求或委婉糾正時，perhaps 比 maybe 顯得更得體。 EN: Maybe we should cancel the picnic because of the weather. 翻譯: 也許因為天氣關係，我們應該取消野餐。
EN:Perhaps we should consider an alternative approach.
翻譯:或許我們應該考慮一個替代方案。
EN:He's late. Maybe he missed the bus.
翻譯:他遲到了。也許他錯過了公車。
EN:This is, perhaps, the best solution available to us.
翻譯:這或許是我們目前能得到的最佳解決方案。
總結建議
在大多數日常對話中兩者可互換，但在正式場合或書面語中，使用 perhaps 會更為妥當。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Maybe" and similar words?How to choose "Maybe" vs alternatives?
maybe vs perhaps
「maybe」較口語、隨意；「perhaps」較正式、書面。
maybe vs possibly
「maybe」表示主觀推測或提議；「possibly」強調客觀可能性，常與「can」、「could」連用。
maybe vs probably
「maybe」表示不確定（約50%機率）；「probably」表示可能性很高（超過50%）。
口語用法
How is "Maybe" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Maybe"?
引述
用於引述或轉述他人的話、想法或可能性，使語氣更間接、不那麼絕對。 EN: He said maybe he'd come later. 翻譯: 他說他可能晚點會來。
EN:A: "Are we meeting at 7?" B: "Maybe, I need to check my schedule."
翻譯:A: "我們七點見嗎？" B: "可能吧，我得確認一下我的行程。"
語氣強調
與其他詞語結合，如 "just maybe" 或 "maybe even"，用來強調一種不確定但仍有希望或驚喜的可能性。 EN: If we hurry, we can just maybe catch the last train. 翻譯: 如果我們快一點，說不定剛好能趕上最後一班火車。
EN:This is the best cake I've ever had, maybe even in my whole life.
翻譯:這是我吃過最好吃的蛋糕，可能甚至是我這輩子吃過最好的。
停頓填充
在對話中作為思考時的填充詞，表示說話者正在考慮或猶豫，為接下來的陳述做鋪墊。 EN: Maybe... I think we should try a different approach. 翻譯: 也許… 我覺得我們應該試試不同的方法。
EN:What should we do tonight? Maybe... we could watch a movie?
翻譯:我們今晚該做什麼？也許… 我們可以看場電影？
正式寫作注意：在正式或學術寫作中，應避免使用 "maybe" 作為填充詞或表達不確定的主要方式。建議改用更精確的詞語，如 "perhaps"、"possibly"，或使用 "it is possible that..." 等結構來表達不確定性。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Maybe"?What fixed phrases with "Maybe" should I remember?
maybe so
maybe so
或許是這樣
maybe not
maybe not
可能不是；也許不會
maybe later
maybe later
也許晚點
maybe even
maybe even [noun phrase / clause]
甚至可能
or maybe
or maybe
或者也許
maybe about
maybe about [number/amount]
大概約…
just maybe
just maybe
說不定；就那麼一點可能
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Maybe"?Which "Maybe" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×He is a maybe person.
✓He is an indecisive person.
"maybe" 是副詞，不能當作形容詞來修飾名詞。想表達「猶豫不決的」應該用形容詞如 "indecisive"、"uncertain" 或 "hesitant"。
×He maybe late for the meeting.
✓He may be late for the meeting.
"maybe"（副詞，或許）和 "may be"（情態動詞 + be 動詞）常被混淆。當主詞後面需要動詞時，應使用 "may be"。"maybe" 通常用於句首或句中修飾整個句子。
×Do you maybe want some coffee?
✓Maybe you want some coffee? / Would you maybe like some coffee?
在直接的是非問句（Do you...?）中，將 "maybe" 放在句首或動詞片語中聽起來更自然。直接放在助動詞 "do" 後面是常見的學習者錯誤。
×Maybe it is the best solution, I'm not sure.
✓Perhaps it is the best solution, I'm not sure.
雖然 "maybe" 和 "perhaps" 意思相近，但在較正式或書面的語境中，"perhaps" 更為合適。口語中 "maybe" 非常普遍，但在寫作或正式發言時，使用 "perhaps" 會顯得更得體。此錯誤屬於語體不當。
×Maybe he will comes tomorrow.
✓Maybe he will come tomorrow.
在 "maybe" 開頭的句子中，後面的主要動詞仍需遵循其主詞和時態的規則。"maybe" 本身不影響動詞變化。此處 "will" 後面應接原形動詞 "come"。
×I will go to the store maybe later.
✓Maybe I will go to the store later. / I will maybe go to the store later.
"maybe" 在句中的位置雖然靈活，但放在句尾（尤其是修飾時間副詞如 "later"）聽起來不自然。更常見的位置是句首，或緊跟在主詞之後、主要動詞之前。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Maybe"?What are tense/participle forms of "Maybe"?