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估计 (gū jì) — to estimate, to reckon, to suppose

Definition

估计 (gūjì) covers both 'to estimate/figure out' (numbers, time) and 'to suppose/guess'. Versus 预计 (formal forecast/prediction based on data) and 估算 (roughly calculate), it's the everyday all-purpose word.

verb
to estimateto reckonto suppose
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 估计。
    Wǒ gū jì tā jīn tiān bú huì lái.
    I suppose he won't come today.
  • 估计。
    Nǐ gū jì yí xià zhè cì kǎo shì xū yào duō shǎo shí jiān.
    Estimate how much time this exam needs.
  • 估计。
    Dà jiā dōu gū jì zhè ge jì huà néng chéng gōng.
    Everyone supposes this plan can succeed.

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
计jìcalculate

估计 joins 估 'estimate' and 计 'calculate' to mean reckoning or supposing.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 計; 计 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 計 pairs 言 (say) with 十 (all). The simplified 计 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical shape.

Open 计 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Thinking & Cognition2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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