测 meaning and stroke order
To survey; to measure; to conjecture
How to write 测, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 测
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to survey
- to measure
- to conjecture
How 测 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Water.
氵 gives the meaning and 则 hints at the sound.
Radical: 氵 (water), shared by 467 characters on this site.
How to remember 测
测 is water 氵 plus 则 (zé), which gives the sound. Picture someone measuring how deep the water is, and from there the idea of measuring and estimating.
测 rarely stands alone in modern Chinese and usually appears in two-character words like 测试 (cèshì, to test), 测量 (cèliáng, to measure) and 预测 (yùcè, to predict). It covers both physical measuring and mental guessing, as in 猜测 (cāicè). Example: 明天有一个数学测试。(Míngtiān yǒu yí gè shùxué cèshì.) There is a math test tomorrow.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 测 (cè) with 侧 (cè, side) and 厕 (cè, toilet), which share the same sound and the 则 part. Check the left side: 测 has water 氵, 侧 has person 亻, and 厕 sits under 厂.
Common words with 测
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 测试 | cèshì | to test (machinery etc); to test (a person's skill in a particular area) | HSK 4 |
| 检测 | jiǎncè | to test; to detect | HSK 4 |
| 预测 | yùcè | to forecast; to predict | HSK 4 |
| 测量 | cèliáng | survey; to measure | HSK 4 |
| 猜测 | cāicè | to guess; to conjecture | HSK 5 |
| 监测 | jiāncè | to monitor | HSK 6 |
| 测定 | cèdìng | to determine (by measuring or surveying) | HSK 6 |
| 推测 | tuīcè | speculation; to conjecture | HSK 7-9 |
| 探测 | tàncè | to probe; to survey | HSK 7-9 |
| 测验 | cèyàn | test; to test | HSK 7-9 |
| 观测 | guāncè | to observe; to survey | HSK 7-9 |
| 揣测 | chuǎicè | to guess; to conjecture | HSK 7-9 |
| 测算 | cèsuàn | to take measurements and calculate | HSK 7-9 |
| 变幻莫测 | biànhuàn-mòcè | to change unpredictably; unpredictable | HSK 7-9 |
测 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 测
How many strokes are in 测?
测 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 测 mean?
测 (cè) means to survey; to measure; to conjecture. A common word with it is 测试 (cèshì), meaning "to test (machinery etc); to test (a person's skill in a particular area)".
How do you pronounce 测?
测 is pronounced cè, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 测?
The radical of 测 is 氵, which carries the idea of "water". Dictionaries list 测 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 测?
The traditional form of 测 is 測. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 测 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 测 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 测 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 测试 and 考试?
考试 (kǎoshì) is the usual word for a formal school exam. 测试 (cèshì) is a test or quiz, and it is also used for testing machines, software or products.
How is 猜测 different from 推测?
猜测 (cāicè) is guessing with little evidence. 推测 (tuīcè) means reasoning from available clues to a likely conclusion, so it sounds more logical and formal.