Chinese word

揣摩

Pronunciation

Pinyinchuǎi mó

Meaning

  • verbguess

Example

我很难揣摩他的真实想法。wǒ hěn nán chuǎi mó tā de zhēn shí xiáng fǎ

It is hard for me to guess what he really thinks.

Illustration for 揣摩 (guess)

More examples

记者在揣摩政府的下一步行动。jì zhě zài chuǎi mó zhèng fǔ de xià yí bù xíng dòng

The reporters are guessing the government's next move.

Core concept

Reading small clues to form a careful, uncertain view of what lies behind words or a situation.

Common phrases

  • 揣摩别人的心理chuǎi mó bié rén de xīn lǐ

    guess other people's thoughts

  • 揣摩对方的动机chuǎi mó duì fāng de dòng jī

    guess the other person's motives

  • 揣摩言外之意chuǎi mó yán wài zhī yì

    read between the lines

Similar words

猜测cāi cè: An unconfirmed guess about what is true or what someone feels.
推测tuī cè: A tentative judgment about a cause or outcome based on fragmentary information.
估计gū jì: A general estimate of quantity, level, extent, or circumstances.
推断tuī duàn: A logical conclusion reached by connecting known facts and evidence.

Definition in Chinese

以细致观察为基础，对他人内心或事物情况作出谨慎的推断。yǐ xì zhì guān chá wèi jī chǔ duì tā rén nèi xīn huò shì wù qíng kuàng zuò chū jǐn shèn de tuī duàn

Word origin

揣 (chuǎi, "to estimate") + 摩 (mó, "to rub or examine closely") joins estimation with close examination, making the compound a memorable image of probing beneath the surface.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, this verb often takes a person's unspoken thoughts as its object, so it fits reading between the lines more than solving a clear factual problem.

Other meanings

  • sound outverb
  • figure outverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word