Word · CEFR A2 · Frequency #249
perhaps
也许；可能
possibly
- 1.
Possibly.
- 2.
by chance
偶然；碰巧
偶然；碰巧；也许；大概
In use
Perhaps we should leave now to avoid traffic.
The meeting might be canceled, but perhaps not.
Perhaps she will change her mind after talking to you.
perhaps she will call tomorrow
Perhaps + [clause]
常用于句首或句中，表示可能性。
Perhaps he will arrive tomorrow.
也许他明天会到。
Perhaps + [adjective/adverb]
It is perhaps too late to change the plan.
现在改变计划也许太晚了。
Perhaps + not
用于简答，表示否定可能性。
Are you coming? Perhaps not.
你来吗？也许不。
Common mistakes
He will come perhaps.Perhaps he will come.
中文中“也许”常置于句末，但英语副词 perhaps 更自然的用法是放在句首或主语之后，而不是句末。
If perhaps it rains, we will stay inside.If it rains, we will stay inside.
连词 if 已表示条件的不确定性，无需再用 perhaps 重复表达“可能”，二者连用造成冗余。
Connections
Collocations
- perhaps the most
- 也许是最…的
- This is perhaps the most important issue we face today.这也许是我们今天面临的最重要的问题。
- perhaps because
- 也许是因为
- He declined the offer, perhaps because he was too busy.他拒绝了邀请，也许是因为他太忙了。
- perhaps even
- 甚至可能
- The project could take months, perhaps even years.这个项目可能需要几个月，甚至可能几年。
- perhaps more importantly
- 也许更重要的是
- The plan is efficient, and perhaps more importantly, it is environmentally friendly.这个计划效率高，也许更重要的是，它环保。
- perhaps not
- 也许不
- Will she come? Perhaps not.她会来吗？也许不会。
- perhaps so
Learner notes
Memory Tip
将perhaps拆成‘per’（每）+‘haps’（发生），记‘每件事都可能发生’→‘也许’
Context & Register
多用于日常对话和写作，语气较为正式和委婉，属于中性语域。
Grammar Note
用于表示可能性，通常置于句首或句尾
Pronunciation & Spelling
These words rhyme with 'perhaps' in the 'haps' part /hæps/. Words spelled with '-ups' like 'cups' (/kʌps/) may look similar but have a different vowel.
High-value vocabulary
该词属于 Oxford 核心词汇，值得优先掌握常见搭配和句型。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 5，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from DICTIONARY_API_DEV, ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.