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推断 (tuī duàn) — to infer; to deduce; to predict; to extrapolate

Definition

推断 (tuīduàn) means 'to infer / deduce' from evidence, and can extend to predicting future outcomes. It is more formal than 推测 and emphasizes drawing a firm conclusion, unlike 推理 which focuses on the reasoning process.

verb
to inferto deduceto predictto extrapolate

Examples

  • ，推断。
    Gēn jù zhè xiē xiàn suǒ, wǒ men kě yǐ tuī duàn chū shì qing de zhēn xiàng.
    Based on these clues, we can deduce the truth of the matter.
  • 推断GDP。
    Jīng jì xué jiā tuī duàn míng nián GDP zēng zhǎng huì fàng huǎn.
    Economists predict that GDP growth will slow down next year.
  • 推断。
    Cóng lì shǐ shù jù kě yǐ tuī duàn wèi lái de rén kǒu qū shì.
    From historical data we can extrapolate future population trends.

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tuīreason
断duànjudge

推 means reasoning and 断 means judging; together they describe forming a conclusion.

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 斷; 断 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 斷 uses 𢇍 (to cut) and 斤 (axe) together.

Open 断 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Thinking & Cognition

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