probably; maybe
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesadverb
probably; I reckon; must be
dialectA colloquial expression used to express conjecture or estimation, often when the speaker is not completely certain. It is primarily used in Northern dialects, especially Beijing dialect. The second character '是' is often pronounced with a neutral tone.
Tā他
héng横
shi是
kuài快
sì四
shí十
le了
ba吧
？
He must be almost forty, right?
Tiān天
yòu又
mēn闷
yòu又
rè热
，
héng横
shi是
yào要
xià下
yǔ雨
le了
。
The weather is so muggy and hot, it's probably going to rain.
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Děng等
le了
zhè这
me么
jiǔ久
tā他
hái还
méi没
lái来
，
héng横
shi是
lù路
shang上
dǔ堵
chē车
le了
。
He still hasn't arrived after waiting so long; there must be a traffic jam.
Wǒ我
kàn看
tā他
nà那
gāo高
xìng兴
jìn劲
r儿
，
héng横
shi是
yǒu有
shén什
me么
hǎo好
shì事
。
Looking at how happy he is, there must be some good news.
Zhè这
xiāng箱
zi子
héng横
shi是
yǒu有
èr二
shí十
jīn斤
zhòng重
。
This box probably weighs about twenty jin.