试探 (shì tan) — to sound out, to probe, to feel out

Definition

试探 means 'to sound out' or 'to probe' — it's about cautiously testing someone's attitude, reaction, or intentions, often in social or strategic situations. Unlike 探索 (to explore broadly) or 探测 (scientific surveying), 试探 is specifically interpersonal and tentative. It can also mean 'to try out' a method, but the core idea is feeling out a response.

verb

to sound outto probeto feel out

Examples

试探。
Tā xiān shì tan le yíxià duìfāng de fǎnyìng.
He first probed the other person's reaction.
试探。
Wǒmen shì tan yíxià zhège xīn fāngfǎ.
Let's try out this new method.
试探，。
Bié shì tan wǒ de nàixīn, wǒ kuài shòu bù liǎo le.
Don't test my patience; I can't stand it anymore.

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