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HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 6 min read

说不定, 不怎么 and 不怎么样

Use 说不定 for “maybe”, 不怎么 + verb or adjective for “not very”, and 不怎么样 for “not that great”.

Pattern

说不定 + guess; 不怎么 + verb/adjective; topic + 不怎么样

不怎么 needs a word after it; 不怎么样 ends the sentence on its own.

这家饭馆的菜不怎么样。

When to use 说不定, 不怎么 and 不怎么样

说不定 means “maybe, perhaps”: it introduces a guess and goes at the start of the sentence or right before the verb. 不怎么 means “not very, not much” and must be followed by a verb or adjective: 不怎么喜欢, 不怎么冷. 不怎么样 means “not that great, so-so” and stands on its own at the end: 这家饭馆不怎么样.

说不定明天会下雨，带把伞吧。

It might rain tomorrow, so take an umbrella.

我不怎么喜欢吃辣的。

I don’t really like spicy food.

他说不定已经到家了。

He may already be home.

明天去不去，现在还说不定。

Whether we go tomorrow isn’t certain yet.

Common traps

  • 不怎么 needs a word after it: say 这部电影不怎么好看 or 这部电影不怎么样, not 这部电影不怎么.
  • Don’t put 不怎么样 before a verb or adjective: say 我不怎么喜欢他, not 我不怎么样喜欢他.
  • Don’t mix up 说不定 and 不一定: 他说不定会来 means “he might come”, but 他不一定会来 means “he won’t necessarily come”.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

明天会下雪

Maybe it will snow tomorrow; it is only a possibility
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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