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Sun 3 May, 2015 09:23 pm
I've always thought 'maybe' and 'probably' is the same thing
as when translated in Korean, they seem identical.
To my surprise, however, I was told that they are obviously different.
If I ask out a girl, 'Hey, would you want to go out with me tonight?'
and if she responds, 'Maybe.', then she indicates that she's not very likely to go out with me.
On the other hand, if she says 'Probably.', then it is very likely that she'd accept my offer.
Is this true?
If so, I need to get rid of the idea right now
that 'maybe', 'probably' and 'perhaps' are exactly the same thing.
Are 'maybe' and 'probably' truly different?
I'd love to hear your comments.
Thank you.
@SMickey,
SMickey wrote:If I ask out a girl, 'Hey, would you want to go out with me tonight?'
and if she responds, 'Maybe.', then she indicates that she's not very likely to go out with me.
I'm curious who told you this.
@SMickey,
SMickey wrote:
I've always thought 'maybe' and 'probably' is the same thing
as when translated in Korean, they seem identical.
To my surprise, however, I was told that they are obviously different.
If I ask out a girl, 'Hey, would you want to go out with me tonight?'
and if she responds, 'Maybe.', then she indicates that she's not very likely to go out with me.
On the other hand, if she says 'Probably.', then it is very likely that she'd accept my offer.
Is this true?
If so, I need to get rid of the idea right now
that 'maybe', 'probably' and 'perhaps' are exactly the same thing.
Are 'maybe' and 'probably' truly different?
I'd love to hear your comments.
Thank you.
Generally, you're right about the difference between "maybe" and "probably." When we say "maybe" we think there's a lower chance of it happening or being true than when we say "probably."
However, if you try to apply that to the situation you mentioned, you could go wrong. You would have to notice her tone of voice and body language (context) to see how she means it. She could be teasing you or making an understatement, etc. Or maybe she's implying that you should keep trying instead of giving up. Something like that.*
*I'm a guy. Don't trust anything I say about women.
@SMickey,
Maybe here means "I might consider it"
Probably means "most likely"
Not at all the same.
@ehBeth,
Well, he's running a English-teaching radio program.
I don't really have to,maybe, trust all he says just because he's a host of an
English-related show. Thank you ehBeth.
@FBM,
So what matters more might be the tone and the situation.
Now I got it. Thank you.
Well, I'd trust anything you say even if it's about women. lol.
@hawkeye10,
Thank you. I'll keep that in mind.
@SMickey,
SMickey wrote:
So what matters more might be the tone and the situation.
Now I got it. Thank you.
Well, I'd trust anything you say even if it's about women. lol.
히히...^^
Think about the tone when someone is saying 잘생겠네 seriously and when they say it ironically or sarcastically. We have similar intonations in English.
@FBM,
You speak Korean?
Oh my word! A nice surprise!
@SMickey,
I'm in S. Korea now. I've been here since 1996. ㅋㅋㅋ 서울대 언어교육원에서 한국어 4급 까지 공부를 했거든요. ^^ But my grammar still sucks.
@FBM,
Can't believe you're right here in Korea.
It's a hop, skip and a jump from here
'cause I also live in Seoul.
So nice to meet you!
@SMickey,
Oh! I thought you were studying overseas. Ha! I'm in 청주.
@FBM,
I've never been abroad.
I wish I could go to the U.S. some time later.
So, you're in 청주 now.
Are you teaching English there?
Whatever you do, I wish you luck.
Break a leg!
@SMickey,
Thanks! Wow. Your written English is so good that I assumed you'd studied abroad at some point. Yes, I teach English. You're a student? University level?
@FBM,
It is almost ten years ago that I graduated with a bachelor's degree in law,
and now I'm just an ordinary worker.
I've always wanted to watch movies without depending on subtitles,
and that's why I've been studying English but the language is so tough to learn for sure.
How great it must've been had I been born in any country where English is spoken! Then I wouldn't have to go through hell for English. Haha.
@SMickey,
I feel exactly the same way about Korean! And I mean EXACTLY! I would love so much to be fluent...Y'know, I teach 영어회화교육론 and 영어작문교육법, but I have very few opportunities to apply those theories to my own experience with learning Korean. I'm always teaching English in (99%) English. Not many chances to speak Korean, even though I live in Korea.
@FBM,
Really?
Looks like there are dozens of Koreans around you
who are willing to talk with you in Korean.
The only reason that you have few chances is just because you're too busy, I guess?
@SMickey,
Yeah, I suppose. But also because I'm not very social or talkative. 약간 내성적인...^^
@FBM,
Join the club.
I get a hell of a lot butterflies in my stomach
when having to speak English.
I'd like to say to both you and myself.
It's confidence that matters. Yeah! Lol.
@SMickey,
True that. Confidence is essential for communicating successfully. Focus on grammatical correctness kills confidence.
These days, I come to Seoul almost every weekend. We should try to get together for a coffee or beer or something sometime, if you're interested.
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