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试探

試探
shìtàn
verb HSK 7 #10,565

Meanings

  1. 1 to probe
  2. 2 to sound out
  3. 3 to test (someone's reaction)

Examples

他试探性地问了一个问题。
Tā shìtànxìng de wènle yī gè wèntí.
He tentatively asked a question.
她想试探一下他的态度。
Tā xiǎng shìtàn yīxià tā de tàidù.
She wanted to sound out his attitude.

Tips

usage
试探 implies cautious, indirect probing — you're testing the waters without being direct. Often used with 性 as 试探性 (tentative/probing) as an adjective.
memory
试 (to try) + 探 (to explore/probe) = to try probing → to sound out.

Stroke Order

试 shì
探 tàn