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How to Say ‘Then I must have misheard.’ in Simplified Chinese

那可能是我听岔了。

nà kě néng shì wǒ tīng chà le

[nà kuh-nung shir waw tīngchà luh]

🇨🇳 In China: Blaming your own hearing is a face-saving way to end a dispute. It lets both you and the driver move on without anyone being called a liar.

Phrase Breakdown

那可能是

nà kě néng shì

then maybe it's that

那 means 'then / in that case'. 可能是 means 'maybe it is'.

Example

那可能是他。

Then maybe it's him.

Words in this phrase

那

nà

[nà]

then

Used to connect the result of an action or thought.

Example

如果你这么说，那我就相信你。

If you say so, then I believe you.

可能

kě néng

[kuh-nung]

possibly; maybe

Used to show something is possible but not certain.

Example

餐厅可能会收取消费。

The restaurant might charge a cancellation fee.

是

shì

[shir]

to be; is; are

A linking verb meaning 'to be.' It connects a subject with identity or description.

Example

她是医生。

She is a doctor.

我听岔了。

wǒ tīng chà le

I misheard

听岔 (tīngchà) is colloquial for 'to mishear'. 了 shows it already happened.

Example

对不起，我听岔了。

Sorry, I misheard.

Words in this phrase

我

wǒ

[waw]

I; me

The first-person pronoun, used to refer to yourself.

Example

我也想了解这个公司的文化。

I also want to understand this company’s culture.

听岔

tīng chà

[tīngchà]

to mishear

Hear something wrongly.

Example

对不起，我听岔了。

Sorry, I misheard.

了

[luh]

completed action marker

Shows that an action has happened or a new situation has occurred.

Example

我想了很久，还是决定联系你。

I thought about it for a long time and still decided to contact you.

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