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推敲 (tuī qiāo) — to deliberate carefully; to weigh and polish (one's words, a plan, or an idea)

Definition

推敲 emphasizes carefully weighing and polishing choices, especially in writing or planning — a more literary, deliberate image than 考虑 or 思考. Often used for revising words, wording, or a plan rather than ordinary decision-making.

verb
to deliberate carefullyto weigh and polish (one's words, a plan, or an idea)

Examples

  • 推敲。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng hái xū yào zǐ xì tuī qiāo yí xià.
    This article still needs careful revision.
  • 推敲，。
    Jīng guò fǎn fù tuī qiāo, tā xuǎn chū le zuì hǎo de yí gè fāng àn.
    After repeated deliberation, he selected the best plan.
  • 推敲。
    Nà ge wèn tí zhí dé rèn zhēn tuī qiāo.
    That issue is worth careful consideration.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

推tuīpush
敲qiāoknock

推 (push) and 敲 (knock) combine to mean deliberate carefully.

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
隹
隹zhuī推tuī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 扌 is a hand, and the right side 隹 gives the sound; the character shows pushing with the hand.

Open 推 →

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
攴攴pūto hit lightly; to tap
Sound part声符shēngfú
高
高gāo敲qiāo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

敲 combines 高, which supplies the sound, with 攴, meaning to hit lightly or tap.

Open 敲 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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