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指不定 (zhǐ bú dìng) — maybe; perhaps; probably (expressing uncertainty)

Definition

Colloquial hedge meaning 'maybe / probably' — speakers guess based on the evidence they just mentioned. More casual and inference-based than 也许 or 可能.

adverb
maybeperhapsprobably (expressing uncertainty)

Examples

  • ，指不定。
    Xiàn zài bù zǒu, zhǐ bú dìng yào chí dào le.
    If you don't leave now, you'll probably be late.
  • 指不定，。
    Míng tiān zhǐ bú dìng huì xià yǔ, nǐ dài sǎn ba.
    It might rain tomorrow — take an umbrella.
  • ，指不定。
    Tā zhè me wǎn hái méi huí lái, zhǐ bú dìng chū shén me shì le.
    He hasn't come back so late — something probably happened.

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