未必
not necessarily; may not
Structure
主语 + 未必 + 动词／形容词
What it means
“Not necessarily, may not”: it leaves the door open, so it is softer than 不.
How it is built
Subject + 未必 + verb / adjective: 贵的东西未必好 (Expensive things aren’t necessarily good).
When to use it
Means the same as 不一定 but sounds a little more formal. Use it to doubt a common assumption: 打折的东西未必便宜.
Watch out
It is not a plain “no”: 他未必来 means he may not come, not that he won’t.
Examples
贵的东西未必好。
Expensive things aren’t necessarily good.
打折的东西未必便宜。
Things on sale aren’t necessarily cheap.
他说会来，可是未必能来。
He says he’ll come, but he may not make it.
Learn this in HSK 4 · Lesson 4: 打八折 (Sales and complaints)
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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