could it be that...?; perhaps; maybe
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesadverb
could it be that...?; perhaps; probably
dialectA dialectal expression used to express conjecture, suspicion, or rhetorical questioning, often equivalent to "难道" or "莫非". The '是' is pronounced with a neutral tone (shi).
Zhè这
me么
wǎn晚
le了
，
tā他
gǎn敢
shi是
bù不
lái来
le了
ba吧
？
It's so late, could it be that he's not coming?
Zhè这
bù不
xiàng像
shì是
qù去
Lǐ李
zhuāng庄
de的
dào道
er儿
，
gǎn敢
shi是
zǒu走
cuò错
le了
ba吧
？
This doesn't look like the road to Lizhuang Village, could it be we took a wrong turn?
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Mén门
zěn怎
me么
kāi开
zhe着
？
gǎn敢
shi是
nǐ你
wàng忘
jì记
suǒ锁
le了
？
Why is the door open? Could it be that you forgot to lock it?
Tā他
liǎn脸
sè色
zhè这
me么
chà差
，
gǎn敢
shi是
shēng生
bìng病
le了
。
His complexion is so pale, perhaps he's fallen ill.