caai1 caak1猜測猜测
Jyutpingcaai1 caak1
Yalechāai chāak
Definition
To guess; to speculate; to estimate or deduce without complete certainty.
neutralcommunicationdaily actions
How it's used
猜測 is a formal term that sounds slightly bookish or journalistic in spoken Cantonese. In daily life, people almost always use 估 instead to express the same meaning. Using 猜測 in casual conversation can make you sound like you are reading a news report or trying to sound overly intellectual.
Examples
Do you think he is guessing the answer right now?
I am just guessing randomly, it might not be true.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 猜測 in casual settings where 估 is much more natural. Avoid using it when talking to friends about simple things like guessing a price or a person's age.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
