may

modal verb

1. （有可能但不肯定）也许，可能
   used to say that sth is possible
   1. That may or may not be true.
      这可能是真的，也可能不是。
   2. He may have (= perhaps he has) missed his train.
      他可能没赶上火车。
   3. They may well win.
      他们完全可能赢。
   4. There is a range of programs on the market which may be described as design aids.
      市场上有各种程序，可以称为设计辅助工具。
2. （转折前所述情况属实）也许，可能
   used when admitting that sth is true before introducing another point, argument, etc.
   1. He may be a good father but he's a terrible husband.
      他或许是一位好父亲，但却是个很糟糕的丈夫。
3. （征求同意或表示允许）可以
   used to ask for or give permission
   1. May I come in?
      我可以进来吗？
   2. You may come in if you wish.
      你想进来就进来吧。
4. （礼貌地评价或提问等）可以
   used as a polite way of making a comment, asking a question, etc.
   1. You look lovely, if I may say so.
      我觉得你看上去很可爱。
   2. May I ask why you took that decision?
      我可否问一下你为什么要作出那样的决定？
   3. If I may just add one thing…
      我想再补充一点…
5. （表示愿望）但愿
   used to express wishes and hopes
   1. May she rest in peace.
      愿她安息。
   2. Business has been thriving in the past year. Long may it continue to do so.
      在过去的一年里生意蒸蒸日上。但愿这种情况能持续下去。
6. （表明目的）可以，能够
   used to say what the purpose of sth is
   1. There is a need for more resources so that all children may have a decent education.
      需要更多的财力支持，让所有的孩子都受到良好的教育。

noun

1. 山楂花
   the white or pink flowers of the hawthorn

May is a modal verb. It is used with the base form of a verb.
may 是情态动词，与动词原形连用。

1. MODAL 也许(会发生或出现);可能(会如此)
   You use may to indicate that something will possibly happen or be true in the future, but you cannot be certain.
   1. We may have some rain today...
      今天可能会下点雨。
   2. Rates may rise, but it won't be by much and it won't be for long...
      费率也许会提高，但幅度不会太大，时间也不会太长。
   3. I may be back next year...
      我可能明年会回来。
   4. I don't know if they'll publish it or not. They may...
      我不知道他们是否会出版，也许他们…
   5. Scientists know that cancer may not show up for many years.
      科学家们知道癌症可能会潜伏多年。
2. MODAL 有可能，也许(用于表示某事可能属实，但不确定)
   You use may to indicate that there is a possibility that something is true, but you cannot be certain.
   1. Civil rights officials say there may be hundreds of other cases of racial violence...
      负责民权事务的官员说可能还有数百宗种族暴力事件。
   2. Throwing good money after bad may not be a good idea, they say.
      他们说用钱砸不见得是个好主意。
3. MODAL 也许，可能(用于表示某事有时或在某些情况下属实)
   You use may to indicate that something is sometimes true or is true in some circumstances.
   1. A vegetarian diet may not provide enough calories for a child's normal growth...
      素食也许不足以提供一个孩子正常成长所需的热量。
   2. Up to five inches of snow may cover the mountains.
      山上的积雪可能厚达5英寸。
   3. ...families that may have both parents working.
      或许是双职工的家庭
4. MODAL (与过去分词连用，用于表示有可能已经发生、属实或给出一个可能的解释)
   You use may have with a past participle when suggesting that it is possible that something happened or was true, or when giving a possible explanation for something.
   1. He may have been to some of those places...
      那些地方他也许去过一些。
   2. The chaos may have contributed to the deaths of up to 20 people...
      混乱可能导致多达20 人丧生。
   3. Investigators say that a fuel explosion may have caused the crash...
      调查员说燃料爆炸有可能是失事的根源。
   4. The events may or may not have been connected.
      这些事件可能存在联系，也可能没有联系。
5. MODAL 尽管，或许(用于承认情况属实，但同时与更重要的事情作比较)
   You use may in statements where you are accepting the truth of a situation, but contrasting it with something that is more important.
   1. I may be almost 50, but there's not a lot of things I've forgotten...
      尽管我已经快到了知天命的岁数，但记忆却不那么糟糕。
   2. The elderly man may not be typical, but he speaks for a significant body of opinion...
      这位老人也许并没有代表性，但他所说的话却代表着相当一部分人的观点。
   3. Walking exercise may be boring at times but early on a clear sunny morning there can be nothing finer.
      有时候散步这种锻炼方式也许会比较枯燥，但若是在一个阳光明媚的清晨，还有什么比这更惬意的呢。
6. MODAL 可以(用于举出在需要时可以加以利用的某些特性、事实等)
   You use may when you are mentioning a quality or fact about something that people can make use of if they want to.
   1. The bag has narrow straps, so it may be worn over the shoulder or carried in the hand...
      这个包配有细带子，可以肩挎，也可以手拎。
   2. Some of the diseases of middle age may be prevented by improving nutrition.
      中年时期的一些疾病可以通过改善营养的方式来预防。
7. MODAL (通常根据规则或法律)可以/不可以
   You use may to indicate that someone is allowed to do something, usually because of a rule or law. You use may not to indicate that someone is not allowed to do something.
   1. Any two persons may marry in Scotland provided that both persons are at least 16 years of age on the day of their marriage...
      在苏格兰，如果双方均年满16岁就可以结婚。
   2. Adolescents under the age of 18 may not work in jobs that require them to drive.
      未满18岁者不得从事需要开车的工作。
8. MODAL 可以(表示准许或请求许可)
   You use may when you are giving permission to someone to do something, or when asking for permission.
   1. Mr Hobbs? May we come in?...
      霍布斯先生？我们可以进来吗？
   2. If you wish, you may now have a glass of milk...
      你想喝的话，现在可以喝一杯牛奶。
   3. 'You may leave.' — 'Yes, sir.'
      “你可以走了。” —— “是，长官。”
9. MODAL 可否(用于礼貌的请求)
   You use may when you are making polite requests.
   1. I'd like the use of your living room, if I may...
      可以的话，我想用一下你的起居室。
   2. May I come with you to Southampton?...
      我可否与您共赴南安普顿？
   3. Ah, Julia, my dear, here is our guest. May we have some tea?
      喂，朱莉娅，亲爱的，来客人了。沏点茶好吗？
10. MODAL 可以,能否（通常用于问句中，表示提出礼貌的建议、请求等)
    You use may, usually in questions, when you are politely making suggestions or offering to do something.
    1. May we suggest you try one of our guest houses...
       可否请您体验一下我们的客房？
    2. May we recommend a weekend in Stockholm?...
       我们可以提议在斯德哥尔摩度周末吗？
    3. Do sit down. And may we offer you something to drink?...
       请坐，给您拿点喝的好吗？
    4. May I help you?
       需要我帮忙吗？
11. MODAL 可以(用于有礼貌地插话、提问或引入话题等)
    You use may as a polite way of interrupting someone, asking a question, or introducing what you are going to say next.
    1. 'If I may interrupt for a moment,' Kenneth said...
       “能打搅一下吗，”肯尼思说。
    2. Anyway, may I just ask you one other thing?...
       不管怎样，我可以再问您一个问题吗？
    3. If I may return to what we were talking about earlier.
       让我们再回到之前的那个话题。
12. MODAL 也许会，可能会(用于提及别人对自己所说的话可能会有的反应或态度)
    You use may when you are mentioning the reaction or attitude that you think someone is likely to have to something you are about to say.
    1. You know, Brian, whatever you may think, I work hard for a living...
       布赖恩，你知道，不论你怎么看，我都是在为生计而拼命工作。
    2. You may consider it useless, but for our customers it's an all-important sign of good service.
       您也许会认为这样毫无用处，可是对于我们的客户而言，它却是优质服务的重要体现。
13. MODAL 不妨说,可以说(用于强调)
    You use may in expressions such as I may add and I may say in order to emphasize a statement that you are making.
    1. They spent their afternoons playing golf—extremely badly, I may add—around Loch Lomond...
       他们下午都在洛蒙德湖边打高尔夫——顺便提一句，球技糟透了。
    2. Both of them, I may say, are thoroughly reliable men.
       可以说，他俩都是绝对可靠的人。
14. MODAL (以便)能，可以（使某事发生）
    If you do something so that a particular thing may happen, you do it so that there is an opportunity for that thing to happen.
    1. ...the need for an increase in the numbers of surgeons so that patients may be treated as soon as possible...
       需要增加外科医生的人数，以便患者能够及早得到救治
    2. The door is shut so that no one may overhear what is said.
       门关着，这样没人能听见说话的内容。
15. MODAL 祝;但愿
    People sometimes use may to express hopes and wishes.
    1. Courage seems now to have deserted him. May it quickly reappear.
       他现在似乎失去了勇气，但愿他能很快重新振作起来。
16. be that as it may → see: be

1. We may have some rain today
   今天可能会下点雨。
2. Rates may rise, but it won't be by much and it won't be for long
   费率也许会提高，但幅度不会太大，时间也不会太长。
3. I may be back next year
   我可能明年会回来。
4. Scientists know that cancer may not show up for many years.
   科学家们知道癌症可能会潜伏多年。
5. Civil rights officials say there may be hundreds of other cases of racial violence
   负责民权事务的官员说可能还有数百宗种族暴力事件。
6. A vegetarian diet may not provide enough calories for a child's normal growth
   素食也许不足以提供一个孩子正常成长所需的热量。
7. He may have been to some of those places
   那些地方他也许去过一些。
8. The chaos may have contributed to the deaths of up to 20 people
   混乱可能导致多达20人丧生。
9. Investigators say that a fuel explosion may have caused the crash
   调查员说燃料爆炸有可能是失事的根源。
10. The events may or may not have been connected.
    这些事件可能存在联系，也可能没有联系。
11. The elderly man may not be typical, but he speaks for a significant body of opinion
    这位老人也许并没有代表性，但他所说的话却代表着相当一部分人的观点。
12. Walking exercise may be boring at times but early on a clear sunny morning there can be nothing finer.
    有时候散步这种锻炼方式也许会比较枯燥，但若是在一个阳光明媚的清晨，还有什么比这更惬意的呢。
13. The bag has narrow straps, so it may be worn over the shoulder or carried in the hand
    这个包配有细带子，可以肩挎，也可以手拎。
14. Some of the diseases of middle age may be prevented by improving nutrition.
    中年时期的一些疾病可以通过改善营养的方式来预防。
15. Any two persons may marry in Scotland provided that both persons are at least 16 years of age on the day of their marriage
    在苏格兰，如果双方均年满16岁就可以结婚。
16. Adolescents under the age of 18 may not work in jobs that require them to drive.
    未满18岁者不得从事需要开车的工作。
17. Mr Hobbs? May we come in?
    霍布斯先生？我们可以进来吗？
18. If you wish, you may now have a glass of milk
    你想喝的话，现在可以喝一杯牛奶。
19. 'You may leave.' — 'Yes, sir.'
    “你可以走了。”——“是，长官。”
20. I'd like the use of your living room, if I may
    可以的话，我想用一下你的起居室。
21. May I come with you to Southampton?
    我可否与您共赴南安普顿？
22. Ah, Julia, my dear, here is our guest. May we have some tea?
    喂，朱莉娅，亲爱的，来客人了。沏点茶好吗？
23. May we suggest you try one of our guest houses
    可否请您体验一下我们的客房？
24. 'If I may interrupt for a moment,' Kenneth said
    “能打搅一下吗，”肯尼思说。
25. You know, Brian, whatever you may think, I work hard for a living
    布赖恩，你知道，不论你怎么看，我都是在为生计而拼命工作。
26. They spent their afternoons playing golf — extremely badly, I may add — around Loch Lomond
    他们下午都在洛蒙德湖边打高尔夫——顺便提一句，球技糟透了。
27. The door is shut so that no one may overhear what is said.
    门关着，这样没人能听见说话的内容。
28. Courage seems now to have deserted him. May it quickly reappear.
    他现在似乎失去了勇气，但愿他能很快重新振作起来。

  can may【导航词义：可以】

  can modal v. 可以，能

〔辨析〕普通用词，用于征求别人的许可，在口语中常用来代替 may；也可用于表示允许。

  may modal v. 〈口，正式〉可以，能

〔辨析〕用于礼貌地表示请求，也可用于表示允许。

modal verb

be that as it may

• 尽管如此
  despite that
  1. I know that he has tried hard; be that as it may, his work is just not good enough.
     我知道他已经尽力了，尽管如此，他的工作仍不太理想。

noun

1. thorny Eurasian shrub of small tree having dense clusters of white to scarlet flowers followed by deep red berries

   Synonym:    whitethornEnglish hawthornCrataegus laevigataCrataegus oxycantha