Usage note
或许表示可能、也许。
huò xǔ biǎo shì kě néng 、 yě xǔ。
或许 means maybe or perhaps.
Context note
或许常用于猜测、建议和口语。
huò xǔ cháng yòng yú cāi cè 、 jiàn yì hé kǒu yǔ。
It is often used with guessing, suggestions, and spoken language.
5 examples
他或许会来。
tā huò xǔ huì lái。
He may come.
或许这是最好的办法。
huò xǔ zhè shì zuì hǎo de bàn fǎ。
Perhaps this is the best way.
我或许知道答案。
wǒ huò xǔ zhī dào dá àn。
I may know the answer.
或许明天会下雨。
huò xǔ míng tiān huì xià yǔ。
Perhaps it will rain tomorrow.
她或许已经回家了。
tā huò xǔ yǐ jīng huí jiā le。
She may have already gone home.
5 mini stories
老师说，或许还有更好的方法。
lǎo shī shuō， huò xǔ hái yǒu gèng hǎo de fāng fǎ。
The teacher said there may be a better way.
或许他只是太累了。
huò xǔ tā zhǐ shì tài lèi le。
Perhaps he was just too tired.
她或许会参加活动。
tā huò xǔ huì cān jiā huó dòng。
She may attend the event.
或许答案就在书里。
huò xǔ dá àn jiù zài shū lǐ。
Perhaps the answer is in the book.
或许明天就会好转。
huò xǔ míng tiān jiù huì hǎo zhuǎn。
Perhaps things will improve tomorrow.
Mini dialogue
明天天气
A
明天会下雨吗？
Míngtiān huì xià yǔ ma?
Will it rain tomorrow?
B
或许会，我们带一把伞吧。
Huòxǔ huì, wǒmen dài yī bǎ sǎn ba.
Perhaps it will, let's bring an umbrella.
找东西
A
我的铅笔不见了。
Wǒ de qiānbǐ bùjiàn le.
My pencil is missing.
B
或许在书包里，你再找找看。
Huòxǔ zài shūbāo lǐ, nǐ zài zhǎo zhǎo kàn.
Perhaps it's in the schoolbag, look again.
Related words and contrasts
similar
可能
kě néng
maybe, possibly
可能 can also mean 'possible' or 'probability'.
similar
也许
yě xǔ
perhaps, maybe
也许 is a common synonym for 或许.
opposite
一定
yī dìng
definitely, certainly
一定 expresses certainty, opposite of uncertainty.
related
大概
dà gài
probably, roughly
大概 indicates a rough estimate or likelihood.