估测 (gū cè) — to estimate, to appraise, to evaluate

Definition

估测 means to estimate or appraise a quantity, cost, or value — a more formal written alternative to 估计, with a slight focus on measurement-based assessment.

verb
to estimateto appraiseto evaluate

Examples

  • 估测。
    Tā men gū cè le gōng chéng de chéng běn.
    They estimated the cost of the project.
  • 估测。
    Zhuān jiā zhèng zài gū cè zhè dòng fáng zi de jià gé.
    The expert is appraising the price of this house.
  • 估测。
    Wǒ men xū yào gū cè zhè cì huó dòng de cān yù rén shù.
    We need to estimate the number of participants for this event.

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.

估gūestimate
测cèmeasure

估 and 测 are parallel acts of judging and measuring, giving the sense of estimating.

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
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
古
古gǔ估gū
Same sound today

The left part 亻 is a person; the right part 古 gives 估 its sound.

Open 估 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 測; 测 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
則
則zé測cè
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 測 combines 氵 (water) with 則 for the sound; it is explained as measuring the depth of water. The simplified 测 is a later shorthand.

Open 测 →

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