không chừng
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adverb: - Perhaps; maybe; possibly: Used to express uncertainty or possibility about something that might happen or be true. It indicates that the speaker is not sure but considers an event or situation to be a potential outcome.
Usage Examples
- Adverb:
- Trời âm u thế này, không chừng chiều nay sẽ có mưa. (The sky is so gloomy, perhaps it will rain this afternoon.)
- Anh ấy nói sẽ đến, nhưng không chừng anh ấy lại quên mất. (He said he would come, but maybe he forgot.)
- Cô ấy đã không trả lời email, không chừng cô ấy đang bận. (She didn't reply to the email; possibly she is busy.)
Advanced Usage
- "Không chừng" is often used at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence to introduce a speculative clause. It softens a statement, making it less definite and more cautious.
- Không chừng chúng ta đã nhầm đường. (Perhaps we took the wrong road.)
- Kế hoạch này không chừng sẽ thành công. (This plan may succeed.)
Variants and Related Words
- Có lẽ (adv): Perhaps; probably. (A more common synonym with a similar level of uncertainty.)
- Biết đâu (adv): Who knows; maybe. (Used to introduce a hopeful or surprising possibility.)
- Có thể (adv): Could; may. (Expresses possibility or capability.)
Synonyms
- Có lẽ: Perhaps.
- Biết đâu: Who knows; maybe.
- Có thể là: It could be that.
Related Phrases
- Không chừng mà...: Perhaps that...; It's possible that... (Often used to introduce a clause with a verb.)
- Không chừng mà cô ấy đã về nhà rồi. (It's possible that she has already gone home.)
Related Idioms
- Không chừng itself functions as an adverbial idiom expressing uncertainty. It is not typically part of a longer, fixed metaphorical expression.
- perhaps; may be