目测 (mù cè) — visual estimation; eyeballing (of distance, size, or quantity)

Definition

Estimating distance, size, or quantity just by looking — 'eyeballing it.' Implies an informal, approximate judgment rather than a precise measurement.

noun
visual estimationeyeballing (of distance, size, or quantity)

Examples

  • 目测。
    Tā duì jù lí de mù cè hěn zhǔn què.
    His visual estimation of distance is very accurate.
  • 目测。
    mù cè De jié guǒ kě néng bú tài jīng què.
    The result of visual estimation may not be very precise.
  • 目测。
    mù cè Shì yě wài shēng cún de zhòng yào jì néng.
    Visual estimation is an important skill for outdoor survival.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

目mùeye
测cèmeasure

目 is eye and 测 is measure, so 目测 is judging distance or size by eye.

Characters in this word

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

目 began as a drawing of a human eye, turned sideways.

Open 目 →

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 測; 测 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
則
則zé測cè
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 測 combines 氵 (water) with 則 for the sound; it is explained as measuring the depth of water. The simplified 测 is a later shorthand.

Open 测 →

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