同意并支持付辉网友的解答,这里也发表几点本人的愚见:
1. may well 很可能;有充分理由可以;完全可以。例如:
This novel may well become a classic. 这本小说很有可能会成为经典作品。
You may well participate with us in our gains. 你们完全可以跟我们共享利益。
注意:这种结构还可以用倒装句式。如:
She can turn down your request, and well she may (do so). 她可以拒绝你的要求,并且她有充分的理由这么做。
2. may / might as well 最好;不妨; 还不如。注意比较:
had better... 最好......(积极心态)
may / might as well... 还是......好(消极或无奈)
Since he won’t listen to you, you may as well let him be. 既然他不听你的劝告,那就随他去吧。
Now that you’ve got a chance, you might as well make full use of it. 既然你有一次机会,你还是充分利用它为好。(1999年全国高考11小题)
3. may as well...as... 完全可以把......像......一样。例如:
You may as well call a bike as a bicycle. 你大可把bike叫做bicycle。
You may as well treat him as your own son. 你完全可以把他当作你的亲生儿子。
4. might as well...as... 与其......不如......。例如:
You might as well throw money into the sea as lend it to William. 你与其借钱给威廉,还不如把钱扔到海里。