muk6 caak1目測目测
Jyutpingmuk6 caak1
Yalemuhk chāak
Definition
To estimate something by visual inspection, such as height, angle, depth, or distance.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
Originally a technical term used in fields like surveying or military training, this has become a very common casual verb in daily life. It is frequently used when making quick, informal judgments about physical dimensions or quantities without using any tools. People often use it to sound slightly more analytical or precise than just saying they are guessing.
Examples
I estimate by eye that this road takes about ten minutes to walk.
Related words
Common phrases
to estimate distance by eye
to estimate height by eye
Common mistake
Do not use this to mean a formal measurement or a precise calculation. It specifically implies a rough estimate made only by looking, so it would be inappropriate to use if you have actually measured the item with a ruler or tape.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
