| 释义 |
may/mei/v. aux. (3rd sing. present may; past might /mait/) 1 (often foll. by well for emphasis 常后跟 well 表示强调) expressing possibility 可能 it may be true 这可能是真的; I may have been wrong 我可能错了; you may well lose your way 你很可能会迷路 2 expressing permission (表示许可)可以 you may not go 你不能去; may I come in? 我可以进来吗？ 3 expressing a wish (表达愿望)祝愿 may he live to regret it 但愿他懊悔终生 4 expressing uncertainty or irony in questions (表示不确定或问话中的反语)会 who may you be? 不知你是哪一位？; who are you, may I ask? 我能问，你是哪一位？ 5 in purpose clauses and after wish, fear, etc. (用于目的从句中，位于 wish ， fear 等词之后)能够；可以 take such measures as may avert disaster 采取这些措施可以消除灾害; hope he may succeed 希望他能够成功 □ be that as it may despite the fact that it may be so 即使如此 □ may as well = might as well (see 见 MIGHT1) □ that is as may be that may or may not be so (implying that there are other factors) 也许可以，也许不可以(暗示有其他因素) [Old English mœg from Germanic: related to MAIN1, MIGHT2]■ Usage 用法说明 Both can and may are used to express permission (see sense 2); in more formal contexts may is usual since can also denotes capability (can I move? = am I physically able to move?; may I move? = am I allowed to move?). may 和 can 都能表示“允许”(见释义 2) ；在很多正式语境里，通常用 may, 因为 can 还表示能力 (can I move? 我能挪动吗？ =am I physically able to move? 从体力上说，我能挪动吗？; may I move ？我可以挪动吗？ =am I allowed to move? 允许我挪动吗？)。 |