to stow in one's clothes; to estimate, to guess, to figure
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14215, Hard
揣
chuāi
to put into (one's pockets, clothes)
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14215, Hard
揣
chuāi
Taiwan pr. [chuai3]
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14215, Hard
揣
chuāi
to surmise
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14215, Hard
揣
chuǎi
to stow in one's clothes; to estimate, to guess, to figure
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14215, Hard
揣
chuǎi
to put into (one's pockets, clothes)
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14215, Hard
揣
chuǎi
Taiwan pr. [chuai3]
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14215, Hard
揣
chuǎi
to surmise
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14215, Hard
chuāi(chuai1)
primary
T1
1to stow in one's clothes; to estimate, to guess, to figure
2to put into (one's pockets, clothes)
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March 24, 2026
揣chuāi(chuai1)
The verb 揣 (chuāi) primarily means to stow something in one's clothing, such as putting items in pockets. It can also refer to the act of estimating or guessing something, often used in contexts where one is trying to figure out a situation or a person's feelings based on limited information.
Strokes12Radical扌Frequency#14215DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Taiwan, the pronunciation chuai3 reflects a unique regional variation that highlights how pronunciation can change the meaning of words, showcasing the diversity within Mandarin as spoken in different areas.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person 'stowing' a secret treasure in their coat pockets, trying to 'guess' how much it's worth. The character 揣 resembles a hand (扌) holding something, symbolizing the act of putting something away or estimating its value.
Meanings of 揣
chuāi(chuai1)
primary
1to stow in one's clothes; to estimate, to guess, to figure
2to put into (one's pockets, clothes)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 揣
揣Simplified
12Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 揣
Podcast: 揣
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AI Study Notes for 揣
Quick Contrast
估计 (gūjì) vs 揣 (chuāi): Use 估计 for formal estimation or calculation, while 揣 implies a more intuitive or informal guessing based on feelings or context.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person 'stowing' a secret treasure in their coat pockets, trying to 'guess' how much it's worth. The character 揣 resembles a hand (扌) holding something, symbolizing the act of putting something away or estimating its value.
Usage Notes
It's important to use 揣 in contexts where it clearly refers to physical stowing or a mental estimation. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar verbs like 放 (fàng - to place), which lacks the nuance of estimation. This term is more informal, so avoid it in formal writing.
HSK Study Tips
While not currently included in the HSK levels, understanding 揣 can help learners connect with other estimation-related verbs. Focus on using it alongside other verbs that express putting away or estimating, to create a richer vocabulary set.
Cultural Note
In Taiwan, the pronunciation chuai3 reflects a unique regional variation that highlights how pronunciation can change the meaning of words, showcasing the diversity within Mandarin as spoken in different areas.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 揣 with 估计 (gūjì), leading to incorrect phrases like '我揣天气' instead of '我估计天气'. The correct usage would be to use 揣 with physical items, not abstract concepts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 揣
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Grammar Patterns of 揣
揣 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
在黑人社区里，人们的心中都____着一团怒火。
There is a smouldering anger in the black community.
The wreckage has been recovered but the two pilots are still missing.
Cultural Notes for 揣
🏮Cultural insight
In Taiwan, the pronunciation chuai3 reflects a unique regional variation that highlights how pronunciation can change the meaning of words, showcasing the diversity within Mandarin as spoken in different areas.
Word Family of 揣
Words Containing This Character6
揣chuāiTaiwan pr. [chuǎi]
揣测chuǎicèto guess揣測
揣摩chuǎimóto analyze
揣度to estimate
揣想to conjecture
不揣冒昧to venture to
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 揣 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 揣
You can say '我揣了手机在口袋里' (wǒ chuāi le shǒujī zài kǒudài lǐ) meaning 'I stowed my phone in my pocket.'
It's better suited for informal contexts, so in formal writing, consider using synonyms that convey estimation or placement more formally.
Synonyms include 估计 (gūjì - to estimate) and 放 (fàng - to put), but be aware of the different contexts in which they are used.
