🗣️ How to Say “It Depends” Naturally in Chinese — Not Just “我不知道”

🚫 Textbook Chinese

我不知道。

(Wǒ bù zhīdào.)

→ I don’t know.

Sure, it works. 

In real life, Chinese speakers often skip the direct “I don’t know” and use condition-based phrases instead — just like in English we might say “It depends.”

✅ Real Chinese: Try These Instead

• 看情况 (kàn qíngkuàng) — “It depends on the situation.”

• 不一定 (bù yídìng) — “Not necessarily.” / “It depends.”

These sound flexible, thoughtful, and more conversational than a flat “I don’t know.”

💡When to Use Them

These phrases are about making the decision based on conditions.

Use them when:

• The answer changes depending on specific factors.

• You want to avoid a definite “yes” or “no.”

• You’re leaving space for flexibility without committing.

Think of them as the “it depends” tool in your Chinese toolkit.

🧱 Example Sentences

1.

A：你会参加明天的活动吗？

(Nǐ huì cānjiā míngtiān de huódòng ma?)

→ Will you join tomorrow’s event?

👉 看情况吧。

(Kàn qíngkuàng ba.)

→ It depends (on the situation).

2.

A：他明天会来吗？

(Tā míngtiān huì lái ma?)

→ Will he come tomorrow?

👉 不一定。

(Bù yídìng.)

→ Not necessarily.

3.

A：你会去旅游吗？

(Nǐ huì qù lǚyóu ma?)

→ Will you travel?

👉 看情况，如果工作不忙就去。

(Kàn qíngkuàng, rúguǒ gōngzuò bù máng jiù qù.)

→ It depends — if work isn’t busy, then I’ll go.

🤓 Why It Sounds Better

• Adds nuance — you’re not giving a black-and-white answer.

• Matches how Chinese people naturally leave room for change.

• Sounds flexible and adaptable, not blunt.

⚠️ Common Mistake

🚫 Saying “我不知道” in every unclear situation.

It can sound like you haven’t thought about it at all.

✅ Use 看情况 / 不一定 to show you’ve considered it — but your answer depends on the circumstances.

🏆 Quick Practice

Someone asks:

“你会来帮忙吗？” 

(Nǐ huì lái bāngmáng ma?)

→ Will you come help?

Which sounds more natural?

A. 我不知道。 (Wǒ bù zhīdào.)

B. 看情况。 (Kàn qíngkuàng.)

✅ Correct answer: B — It shows thought and flexibility.

✨ Final Thoughts

Next time you’re unsure, don’t stop at “我不知道.”

Try one of these softer, more flexible phrases instead — they’ll make you sound thoughtful, polite, and more in control of the conversation.

💬 看情况 (kàn qíngkuàng) — It depends on the situation.

💬 不一定 (bù yídìng) — Not necessarily / It depends.

In Chinese, it’s not just about giving an answer — it’s about keeping the conversation warm and open.

📘 Want more like this? Check out the full blog series: Real-Life Chinese