未必
wèi bì
Not necessarily
未必 (wèi bì) — not necessarily
Subject + 未必 (wèibì) + Verb/Adj.
HSK 63.0
Pattern diagram
Who / what未必Action
Rule structure
未必 (wèibì) means “not necessarily, not certain.” It questions a claim rather than simply declaring it false. It usually comes before the predicate; “unlikely” may fit a context, but not every occurrence.
Rule structure
未必 (wèibì) means “not necessarily, not certain.” It questions a claim rather than simply declaring it false. It usually comes before the predicate; “unlikely” may fit a context, but not every occurrence.
Examples
他未必知道这件事。
Tā wèibì zhīdào zhè jiàn shì.
He doesn't necessarily know about this.
Examples
他未必知道这件事。
Tā wèibì zhīdào zhè jiàn shì.
He doesn't necessarily know about this.
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Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “not necessarily” in Chinese with 未必?
Use the structure: Subject + 未必 (wèibì) + Verb/Adj.. For example: 他未必知道这件事。 — “He doesn't necessarily know about this”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
他未必知道这件事。 — “He doesn't necessarily know about this”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Level 6.
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More HSK 3.0 Level 6 grammar rules
再三 — over and over again
再三 (zàisān) + Verb Phrase
好不容易 — difficulty, “finally”
好不容易 (hǎo bù róngyì) / 好容易 (hǎo róngyì) + 才 (cái) + Verb Phrase
一再 — again and again
一再 (yízài) + Verb Phrase
凡是 — all, every
凡是 (fánshì) + Noun Phrase, 都 (dōu) + Verb
干脆 — just do it
干脆 (gāncuì) + Verb Phrase
一向 — always been
Subj. + 一向 (yíxiàng) + Verb / Adj.
一时 vs 一度 — temporary vs once
一时 (yìshí): temporary (moment) / 一度 (yídù): once (period in past)
一直 vs 一向 — always vs consistently
一直 (yìzhí): continuously (from past to present) / 一向 (yíxiàng): consistently (habit)