捉摸 (zhuō mō) — to fathom, to figure out (often in negative or… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

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.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

捉 means grasp and 摸 means feel, together suggesting trying to grasp or figure something out.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

扌足捉

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒu

Sound part声符shēngfú

足

足zú捉zhuō

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

捉 pairs 扌, the hand form of 手, with 足, which gives the character its sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

手手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

莫

莫mò摸mō

Same sound today

摸 pairs 手 (hand) with 莫; 手 shows the meaning is about a hand action, and 莫 gives the sound.

Appears in

Thinking & Cognition

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