试探

試探
shìtàn
verb HSK 7-9 #10,565

Meanings

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

Examples

HSK 2
Tā xiǎng shìtàn yīxià tā de tàidù.
She wanted to sound out his attitude.
HSK 3
Tā shìtànxìng de wèn le yīgè wèntí.
He tentatively asked a question.

Tips

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

Stroke Order

shì
tàn