投石问路 (tóu shí wèn lù) — (idiom) to test the waters, to probe the situation

Definition

Idiom meaning to test the waters by probing cautiously before committing. Implies a small, exploratory action to gauge reaction — stronger and more figurative than simply 试探.

idiom
to test the watersto probe the situation

Examples

  • ，投石问路，。
    Zài kāi shǐ xiàng mù zhī qián, wǒ men yīng gāi xiān tóu shí wèn lù, liǎo jiě yí xià shì chǎng fǎn yìng.
    Before starting the project, we should test the waters and understand market reactions.
  • 投石问路，。
    Tā xiān tóu shí wèn lù, kàn kàn lǎo bǎn duì zhè ge jiàn yì de tài dù.
    He first probed to see the boss's attitude towards this suggestion.
  • 投石问路，。
    Tā yǐ tí wèn de fāng shì tóu shí wèn lù, shì tàn duì fāng de dǐ xiàn.
    She used a questioning approach to feel out the other side's bottom line.

Origin

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

The left part 扌 shows a hand, and the right part 殳 gives the sound of the character.

Open 投 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 石 shows a stone under a cliff-like overhang, or a cave set into a cliff side.

Open 石 →

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 問; 问 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
門
門mén問wèn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 問 combines 口 (mouth) with 門, which gives the sound; the simplified 问 is a later shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 问 →

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
足足zú
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè路lù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

路 combines 足, a foot, with 各, which supplies the sound.

Open 路 →

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