看情况吧。
Depends.
بهطور تحتاللفظی: Look [at the] situation [particle].
Use it to politely delay a decision or indicate that external factors will decide your answer.
در ۱۵ ثانیه
- The perfect 'maybe' for when you aren't ready to commit.
- Politely avoids a direct 'no' while keeping options open.
- Used daily in social, casual, and semi-professional settings.
معنی
This is the ultimate 'maybe' in Chinese. It literally means 'look at the situation,' and you use it when you aren't ready to commit to a 'yes' or 'no' yet.
مثالهای کلیدی
3 از 6A friend asks if you're going to the gym tonight.
我不确定，看情况吧。
I'm not sure, depends.
A colleague asks if the project will be done by Friday.
如果进展顺利的话可以，但还是看情况吧。
If it goes well, yes, but it depends.
Texting a friend about meeting for coffee.
看情况吧，我下班可能很晚。
We'll see, I might finish work very late.
زمینه فرهنگی
This phrase embodies the Chinese social concept of 'leaving leeway' (留余地). It is deeply rooted in a culture that prefers indirect communication to maintain social harmony. It became a staple of modern Mandarin as a polite way to navigate the busy, unpredictable nature of urban life.
The 'Soft' Ending
Adding the 'ba' (吧) at the end makes you sound much more suggestive and polite. Without it, '看情况' can sound a bit blunt or cold.
Don't Overuse with Dates
If you say this every time someone asks you out, they will assume you are 'ghosting' them. Use it sparingly in romance!
در ۱۵ ثانیه
- The perfect 'maybe' for when you aren't ready to commit.
- Politely avoids a direct 'no' while keeping options open.
- Used daily in social, casual, and semi-professional settings.
What It Means
看情况吧 is your go-to phrase for non-committal answers. It translates to "It depends" or "We'll see." It suggests that your final decision rests on external factors. Maybe it's the weather. Maybe it's how tired you feel after work. It’s a polite way to keep your options open without sounding rude.
How To Use It
You can use this phrase as a standalone answer. Someone asks if you're coming to the party? Just say 看情况吧. You can also add specific conditions before it. For example, 看明天的天气情况吧 (Depends on tomorrow's weather). It’s incredibly flexible. It works in speech, texting, and even light professional settings. Just don't use it if your boss asks if a report will be finished today!
When To Use It
Use it when you genuinely don't know the outcome yet. It’s perfect for social invitations you might want to skip. It’s great for travel plans that aren't set in stone. Use it when someone asks for a price estimate you can't give yet. It’s also a lifesaver when you want to say 'no' slowly. It softens the blow of a potential rejection.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this when a definitive answer is required for safety or logistics. If a pilot asks if the plane is ready, don't say 看情况吧. In very formal ceremonies, it might sound too casual or dismissive. Also, avoid using it repeatedly with a romantic partner. It can make you sound flaky or uninterested. Nobody likes a 'maybe' person during a crisis.
Cultural Background
Chinese culture often values 'mianzi' (face) and indirectness. Saying a flat 'no' can feel harsh or aggressive. 看情况吧 provides a social buffer. it allows everyone to save face while leaving the door ajar. It reflects a pragmatic worldview where things are always changing. It’s the linguistic equivalent of 'playing it by ear.'
Common Variations
You might hear 看情况 (shorter, more direct) or 看吧 (very casual). If someone is being more formal, they might say 视情况而定. In some regions, people add a 'soft' ending like 看情况咯. No matter the variation, the core message remains: the jury is still out!
نکات کاربردی
Perfect for B1 learners to sound more natural. It sits right in the middle of the formality scale, making it safe for almost any conversation.
The 'Soft' Ending
Adding the 'ba' (吧) at the end makes you sound much more suggestive and polite. Without it, '看情况' can sound a bit blunt or cold.
Don't Overuse with Dates
If you say this every time someone asks you out, they will assume you are 'ghosting' them. Use it sparingly in romance!
The 'Polite No'
In China, if someone says '看情况吧' and never brings it up again, it usually means 'No.' Don't keep pushing for an answer!
مثالها
6我不确定，看情况吧。
I'm not sure, depends.
A classic casual response to a social invitation.
如果进展顺利的话可以，但还是看情况吧。
If it goes well, yes, but it depends.
Adds a layer of professional caution to a deadline.
看情况吧，我下班可能很晚。
We'll see, I might finish work very late.
Explaining the 'why' behind the uncertainty.
再看看吧，看情况。
Let me think about it, depends.
A polite way to exit a high-pressure sales situation.
哎呀，看情况吧！
Oh, we'll see!
Using 'aiya' adds a touch of playful avoidance.
能不能在户外办，还得看情况吧。
Whether we can do it outdoors still depends.
Expressing genuine uncertainty about a major event.
خودت رو بسنج
Choose the best response to: '明天你去爬山吗？' (Are you going hiking tomorrow?)
我不确定，___。
Since the speaker is 'not sure' (不确定), '看情况吧' is the logical follow-up.
Which word completes the phrase to mean 'It depends'?
看___吧。
'情况' means situation, making the full phrase 'look at the situation'.
🎉 امتیاز: /2
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
Formality Spectrum of 'Depends'
Shortened version for close friends.
看吧 (Kàn ba)
Standard daily use for most situations.
看情况吧 (Kàn qíngkuàng ba)
Written or professional contexts.
视情况而定 (Shì qíngkuàng ér dìng)
When to say '看情况吧'
Weather Uncertainty
Rainy day plans
Work Schedule
Overtime possibilities
Polite Refusal
Avoiding a boring party
Budgeting
Uncertain costs
سوالات متداول
10 سوالNot at all! It is actually more polite than a direct 'no' in many Chinese social contexts. It shows you are considering the request but have obstacles.
Yes, but be careful. It's better to explain the situation first, like 因为项目还没完，看情况吧 (Because the project isn't done, it depends).
看吧 is much more casual and is usually used between very close friends or family. 看情况吧 is safer for general use.
Mostly, yes. It indicates that the outcome is contingent on something else happening first.
You can say 看天气情况吧 (Kàn tiānqì qíngkuàng ba).
Yes, in business writing or formal speeches, use 视情况而定 (Shì qíngkuàng ér dìng).
Absolutely. It's one of the most common phrases in WeChat conversations to delay plans.
If you are likely to go, say 应该可以，但还要看情况 (Should be fine, but still depends).
Yes, Cantonese has a similar version: 睇情況啦 (tai2 cing4 fong3 laa1).
Forgetting the 吧 (ba). Without it, the phrase can sound like a command to 'look at the situation' rather than 'it depends'.
عبارات مرتبط
看吧 (Kàn ba) - We'll see / Just wait and see.
视情况而定 (Shì qíngkuàng ér dìng) - Depending on the circumstances (Formal).
再说吧 (Zàishuō ba) - Let's talk about it later / We'll see.
不一定 (Bù yīdìng) - Not necessarily / Not sure.
نظرات (0)
برای نظر دادن وارد شویدیادگیری زبانها را رایگان شروع کنید
شروع رایگان یادگیری