也许 yě xǔ
“perhaps; maybe”
adverbHSK 4 · 2021 list level 2Traditional 也許
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
也许 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 1861: 也许 yěxǔ — Level 4; official annotation 4 (副). PDF page 126
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 也许
也许 (yěxǔ) means “perhaps” or “maybe” and marks a guess or an uncertain statement. It is an adverb: it can stand at the very start of the sentence, or come after the subject and before the verb or adjective (often with 会, 是, 不). It is not combined with the question particle 吗.
例句Example sentences
- 也许他今天不来了。yě xǔ tā jīn tiān bù lái le.Maybe he isn't coming today.
- 明天也许会下雨，你带伞吧。míng tiān yě xǔ huì xià yǔ, nǐ dài sǎn ba.It might rain tomorrow, so take an umbrella.
- 也许你说得对，我再想一想。yě xǔ nǐ shuō de duì, wǒ zài xiǎng yi xiǎng.Maybe you're right; I'll think about it again.
易混词Easily confused
也许vs可能
可能 is more versatile: it works as an adverb (他可能来), a noun (这种可能 “this possibility”), and an adjective (这是可能的). 也许 is only an adverb and sounds more like a tentative personal guess.