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.

1. perhaps; may be