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探讨 (tàn tǎo) — to discuss in depth; to explore (a topic, issue, etc.)

Definition

探讨 (tàn tǎo) means to explore or discuss an issue IN DEPTH — more thorough and analytical than everyday 讨论. Pairs with topics like 方案, 问题, 影响 rather than casual chat.

verb
to discuss in depthto explore (a topic, issue, etc.)

Examples

  • 探讨。
    Zhuān jiā men zhèng zài tàn tǎo qì hòu biàn huà de yǐng xiǎng.
    The experts are exploring the impact of climate change.
  • 探讨。
    Zhè ge wèn tí hái xū yào jìn yí bù tàn tǎo.
    This issue still needs further discussion.
  • 探讨。
    Wǒ men zài huì yì shàng tàn tǎo le xīn de hé zuò fāng àn.
    We discussed the new cooperation plan at the meeting.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

探tànexplore
讨tǎodiscuss

探 means to explore and 讨 means to discuss, so together they mean to explore a topic.

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
𥥍
𥥍𥥍探tàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 探, the 扌 part is a hand, and 𥥍 gives the sound.

Open 探 →

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 討; 讨 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
肘
肘zhǒu討tǎo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 討 pairs 言 (speech) with a shortened form of 肘 for sound; an old reading took 言 plus 寸 (hand) as 'rectify'. The simplified 讨 is a shorthand, so its parts are not historical components.

Open 讨 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Communication & SpeechThinking & Cognition

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