揣

chuāi, chuǎi, chuài

扌 + 耑

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

chuāi (verb) to put into (one's pockets, clothes)

chuǎi (verb) to estimate; to guess; to figure

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 耑 represents the sound.

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 耑

About

The character 揣 is a phonosemantic compound: the hand radical 扌 on the left indicates a manual action, and the right-side component 耑 gives the sound. 耑 originally depicted the tip of a plant, but here it functions purely as a phonetic marker. Its primary meaning involves physical actions such as putting something into one's clothes or pockets, or feeling for objects hidden within garments. From this sense of probing the unseen, the character later acquired the abstract meaning of guessing, estimating, or trying to infer another person's thoughts, intentions, or hidden motives.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他把钱包揣进口袋。

Tā bǎ qiánbāo chuāi jìn kǒudài.

He put the wallet into his pocket.

我揣着钥匙去上班。

Wǒ chuāi zhe yàoshi qù shàngbān.

I carried the keys and went to work.

不要随意揣测别人的想法。

Bùyào suíyì chuǎicè biérén de xiǎngfǎ.

Do not casually speculate about other people's thoughts.

他仔细揣摩这句话的含义。

Tā zǐxì chuǎimó zhè jù huà de hányì.

He carefully pondered the meaning of this sentence.

她揣着不安的心情等待结果。

Tā chuāi zhe bù'ān de xīnqíng děngdài jiéguǒ.

She waited for the result with an anxious heart.

我们需要揣度对方的意图。

Wǒmen xūyào chuǎiduó duìfāng de yìtú.

We need to estimate the other party's intentions.

尽管他揣测到风险，还是决定投资。

Jǐnguǎn tā chuǎicè dào fēngxiǎn, háishì juédìng tóuzī.

Even though he surmised there was risk, he still decided to invest.

在谈判中，善于揣摩对手的心理至关重要。

Zài tánpàn zhōng, shànyú chuǎimó duìshǒu de xīnlǐ zhìguān zhòngyào.

In negotiations, being adept at gauging the opponent's psychology is crucial.

Related Characters

Component: 扌

Component: 耑

揣