不见得

bù jiàn de
adverbIntermediate💡 not necessarily
informal

Used to express doubt or uncertainty about something, often implying that the outcome is not guaranteed or that the speaker has reservations.

他不见得会来。

He might not come.

这个方案不见得有效。

This plan may not be effective.

💡

Often used to soften a negative statement or to express skepticism.

Collocations

不见得一定not necessarily certain不见得有用not necessarily useful

Related Phrases

未必phrase
not necessarily
不一定phrase
not necessarily

💡Pro Tip

Softening Negative Statements

Use 不见得 to express doubt or uncertainty in a polite way, especially when you want to avoid sounding too direct or negative.

Gold Rule

Context Matters

The meaning of 不见得 can vary slightly depending on the context, but it generally conveys a sense of uncertainty or doubt.

📖Word Origin

Composed of 不 (not) + 见得 (to appear or seem), literally meaning 'not appearing' or 'not seeming,' which conveys a sense of uncertainty.

📝Usage Notes

This phrase is commonly used in everyday conversations to express doubt or to downplay certainty. It is often used to soften a negative statement or to indicate that something is not guaranteed.

Word Breakdown

not
prefix
+
见得
to appear or seem
verb phrase
汉英词典