推想 (tuī xiǎng) — to infer; to conjecture based on reasoning

Definition

推想 (tuīxiǎng) means to infer or conjecture by reasoning from evidence, stronger than 猜测 (random guessing). It often appears with 出 to introduce the inferred conclusion.

verb
to inferto conjecture based on reasoning

Examples

  • 推想。
    Cóng zhè xiē zhèng jù kě yǐ tuī xiǎng chū dāng shí de zhuàng kuàng.
    From this evidence, we can infer the situation at that time.
  • 推想。
    Tā tuī xiǎng duì fāng kě néng yǐ jīng gǎi biàn le jì huà.
    He conjectured that the other side might have already changed their plans.
  • 推想。
    Zhè piān lùn wén de zuò zhě tuī xiǎng le wèi lái de rén kǒu qū shì.
    The author of this paper inferred future population trends.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

推tuīinfer
想xiǎngthink

推 and 想 both convey reasoning and thinking, together giving the sense of inferring.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
隹
隹zhuī推tuī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 扌 is a hand, and the right side 隹 gives the sound; the character shows pushing with the hand.

Open 推 →

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
心心xīnheart, mind
Sound part声符shēngfú
相
相xiāng想xiǎng
Same sound today

想 has 心 (heart, mind) below 相 (to look at); the shape shows the mind looking at or considering something, and 相 also gives the sound.

Open 想 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.