势必
is bound to; will inevitably
Structure
原因 ， 势必 结果
What it means
Is bound to; will inevitably: the result follows from the way things stand.
How it is built
Cause，(subject) + 势必 + result: 物价上涨势必影响老百姓的生活 (Rising prices are bound to affect ordinary people’s lives).
When to use it
Written; common in analysis and news. 必然 is neutral “certainly”; 必定 is the speaker’s conviction; 未必 is “not necessarily”. In speech, say 肯定会 or 一定会.
Watch out
It predicts a consequence of circumstances, not a personal decision: ✗ 我明天势必去 ✓ 我明天一定去.
Examples
两国一旦走向全面对抗，势必两败俱伤。
If the two move to all-out confrontation, both are bound to lose.
物价上涨势必影响老百姓的生活。
Rising prices are bound to affect ordinary people’s lives.
Learn this in Lesson 107 · HSK 7–9: 中美关系与全球化 (China, America and globalisation)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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