zhùdòngcí: kěnéng
Auxiliary verb 可能 (助动词：可能)
可能 means “maybe / might / possible.” Use it when you are guessing and are not fully sure; it can come before the subject or before the verb phrase.
核心例句
外面下雨了，他可能堵车了，也可能还没出门。
Wàimian xià yǔ le, tā kěnéng dǔchē le, yě kěnéng hái méi chūmén.
It is raining outside. He may be stuck in traffic, or he may not have left yet.
HSK 2
HSK 2
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2 个结构
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10 个练习
课程摘要
可能 means “maybe / might / possible.” Use it when you are guessing and are not fully sure; it can come before the subject or before the verb phrase.
可能 expresses possibility or uncertainty. The speaker thinks something may be true or may happen, but does not know for sure. It is useful for guesses, soft statements, and predictions.
Two positions are common: Subject + 可能 + Verb Phrase, as in 他可能在家; or 可能 + Subject + Verb Phrase, as in 可能他在家. The first is the most common in daily speech, while the second puts more focus on the whole sentence as a guess.
可能 can also be an adjective meaning “possible”: 这很可能, 这不可能. Be careful with negation: 可能不 means “might not,” while 不可能 means “impossible / there is no way.” 他可能不来 means maybe he will not come; 他不可能来 means he definitely will not come.
Do not confuse 可能 with 可以. 可能 is about probability or possibility; 可以 is about permission or feasibility. 我可能去 means “I might go.” 我可以去吗 means “May I go?”
Do not put 可能 after the verb. It must appear before the verb phrase or at the beginning of the sentence.
语法句型
Subject + 可能 + Verb Phrase — expressing possibility about a subject
The subject might do something or be in a certain state. 可能 is placed before the verb to express uncertainty or conjecture.
她可能在图书馆学习。
Tā kěnéng zài túshūguǎn xuéxí.
She might be studying in the library.
我今天可能不去吃饭了。
Wǒ jīntiān kěnéng bú qù chīfàn le.
I might not go to eat today.
他们可能已经到家了。
Tāmen kěnéng yǐjīng dào jiā le.
They might have already arrived home.
语法句型
可能 + Subject + Verb Phrase — 可能 at the front as a sentence adverb ('perhaps/maybe...')
可能 is placed at the front of the sentence to signal uncertainty about the entire proposition, similar to 'maybe' at the start of an English sentence.
可能他今天不来了。
Kěnéng tā jīntiān bù lái le.
Maybe he is not coming today.
可能明天会下雨。
Kěnéng míngtiān huì xiàyǔ.
Maybe it will rain tomorrow.
可能这家餐厅的菜很好吃。
Kěnéng zhè jiā cāntīng de cài hěn hǎochī.
Perhaps the food at this restaurant is delicious.
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