TongTong
Sign in

估算 (gū suàn) — to estimate, to roughly calculate

Definition

估算 focuses on rough numerical calculation (costs, quantities, capacity). Unlike 评估/评价, it is not a value judgment — just a quick number. 估计 is its everyday near-synonym; 估算 is slightly more deliberate and often implies a structured calculation.

verb
to estimateto roughly calculate

Examples

  • 估算。
    Wǒ men xiān gū suàn yí xià zhè cì lǚ xíng de fèi yòng.
    Let's first estimate the cost of this trip.
  • 估算。
    Gōng chéng shī gū suàn le qiáo liáng de chéng zhòng néng lì.
    The engineer estimated the load-bearing capacity of the bridge.
  • 估算，。
    Gēn jù gū suàn, zhè ge xiàng mù xū yào sān gè yuè wán chéng.
    According to estimates, this project needs three months to complete.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

估gūestimate
算suàncalculate

估 (estimate) and 算 (calculate) combine to mean working out a rough value.

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The current form 算 has 竹 on top, 目 in the middle, and 廾 below; the 目 part may have originally drawn counting rods, often made of bamboo.

Open 算 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Math

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