Tā huāle jǐ tiān shíjiān mōqīngle zhèlǐ de qíngkuàng.
He spent a few days getting a clear picture of the situation here.
Tips
memory
摸 means to feel/grope (like feeling around in the dark) and 清 means clear. Together: to feel around until things become clear — to figure something out through investigation.
