HSK · Level 110
45 words
Chinese word
投机
Pronunciation
Pinyintóu jī
Meaning
- verbspeculate
Example
他经常投机买股票。tā jīng cháng tóu jī mǎi gǔ piào
He often speculates in stocks.
More examples
艺术品拍卖会上，有人为了转手获利而临时投机。yì shù pǐn pāi mài huì shàng yǒu rén wèi le zhuán shǒu huò lì ér lín shí tóu jī
At an art auction, some people temporarily speculate to resell the items for a profit.
Core concept
Finding an opening and fitting into it, whether the aim is profit from a chance or harmony with another person.
Common phrases
短线投机duǎn xiàn tóu jī
engage in short-term speculation
在市场上投机zài shì chǎng shàng tóu jī
speculate in the market
抑制投机yì zhì tóu jī
curb speculation
Similar words
投机取利tóu jī qǔ lì: Use a favorable opportunity to pursue profit, especially for a short-term gain.
投机倒把tóu jī dáo bǎ: Pursue quick profit by buying goods cheaply and reselling them at a higher price.
Definition in Chinese
1. 利用时机、趁势投入资源以谋取利益，多用于短期或高风险的操作。2. 在口语中也可表示双方性情或兴趣相投、合拍。1. lì yòng shí jī chèn shì tóu rù zī yuán yǐ móu qǔ lì yì duō yòng yú duǎn qī huò gāo fēng xiǎn de cāo zuò 2. zài kóu yǔ zhōng yě kě biǎo shì shuāng fāng xìng qíng huò xìng qù xiāng tóu hé pāi
Word origin
投 (tóu, "put in") + 机 (jī, "opportunity") creates the image of putting something into a favorable opening, leading to profit-seeking and the sense of fitting well with another person.
Usage tips
- English speakers may expect a word about chance to describe a guess, but this word usually describes an active response to an opportunity rather than a passive belief about what may happen.
Other meanings
- speculationnoun
- congenialadjective
Opposites
- 投资tóu zīinvestverb
Related words
- 投机客tóu jī kèspeculatornoun
- 投机行为tóu jī xíng wéispeculative behaviornoun