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没准儿 (méi zhǔn r) — (adverb) maybe, perhaps; (adjective) not sure, uncertain

Definition

Colloquial 'maybe, perhaps' used in speech; more casual than 恐怕. It can also mean 'not sure' as a short answer to a question.

adverb
maybeperhaps
adjective
not sureuncertain

Examples

  • 没准儿。
    méi zhǔn r Tā huì lái cān jiā jù huì.
    Maybe he will come to the party.
  • 没准儿。
    Zhè jiàn shì méi zhǔn r néng chéng.
    This matter might succeed.
  • ？——没准儿。
    Tā shén me shí hou huí lái? —— méi zhǔn r.
    When will he come back? — Not sure.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

没准not certain
没méihave no准zhǔnstandard
动宾Verb + object
儿ércolloquial erhua

没 means not, 准 means certain, and 儿 gives a colloquial spoken form, so it expresses uncertainty or maybe.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 沒; 没 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬛
𠬛𠬛沒mò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 沒 pairs 水 (water) with 𠬛 as a sound part; this note is about 沒, not the simplified 没.

Open 没 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 準; 准 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
隼
隼sǔn準zhǔn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 準, not 准, pairs 水 (water) with 隼 as a sound part; the evidence describes it as 'water level'.

Open 准 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape 儿 is a simple drawing of a standing person, used as an alternate form of the character for person.

Open 儿 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

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