捉摸 (zhuō mō) — to fathom, to figure out (often in negative or uncertain contexts)
Definition
Almost always used negatively or in questions (捉摸不透, 难以捉摸) to say something — a person's thoughts, future events — is hard to figure out or predict. The result complement 透 must follow it.
verb
to fathomto figure out (often in negative or uncertain contexts)
Examples
- 捉摸。Tā de xīn si zhēn shì ràng rén zhuō mō bú tòu.His thoughts are truly unfathomable.
- ，捉摸。Zhè zhǒng tiān qì biàn huà duō duān, shí zài nán yǐ zhuō mō.This kind of weather changes so much; it's really hard to predict.
- ，。Wèi lái de jú shì hái zhuō mō bú dìng, shuí dōu wú fǎ duàn yán.The future situation is still uncertain; no one can say for sure.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.