to stow in one's clothes; to estimate, to guess, to figure
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14215, Very Hard
揣
chuāi
to put into (one's pockets, clothes)
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14215, Very Hard
揣
chuāi
Taiwan pr. [chuai3]
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14215, Very Hard
揣
chuāi
to surmise
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14215, Very Hard
揣
chuǎi
to stow in one's clothes; to estimate, to guess, to figure
HSK 7, v, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14215, Very Hard
揣
chuǎi
to put into (one's pockets, clothes)
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14215, Very Hard
揣
chuǎi
Taiwan pr. [chuai3]
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14215, Very Hard
揣
chuǎi
to surmise
HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #14215, Very 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#14215DifficultyVery Hard
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.
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.
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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Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 耑 represents the sound.
1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
2The sound half耑 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayhand
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 揣? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 揣?
Decomposition of 揣
IDS Structure⿰扌耑
揣Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
耑duan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 揣?
How to say to stow in one's clothes; to estimate, to guess, to figure in Chinese
“to stow in one's clothes; to estimate, to guess, to figure” in Chinese is揣chuāi
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.
When to use 揣
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.
揣 or something close to it
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.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 揣
揣
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Practice writing 揣 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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.
