測 meaning and stroke order
To survey, to measure; to estimate, to conjecture
How to write 測, stroke by stroke
12 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 測
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to survey
- to measure
- to conjecture
How 測 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Water.
氵 gives the meaning and 則 hints at the sound.
Radical: 氵 (water), shared by 467 characters on this site.
How to remember 測
測 is water 氵 plus 則 (zé), which gives the sound and means a rule or standard. Picture measuring the depth of water against a fixed rule, and you have 測 (cè), to measure.
測 rarely stands alone in modern speech. It appears in words about measuring and testing, like 測量 (cèliáng) and 測試 (cèshì), and in words about guessing, like 猜測 (cāicè) and 預測 (yùcè). Example: 明天的天氣很難預測。(Míngtiān de tiānqì hěn nán yùcè.) Tomorrow's weather is hard to predict.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 測 (cè) with 側 (cè, side) and 廁 (cè, toilet), which share the same sound. Check the left side: water 氵 for measuring, person 亻 for side.
Common words with 測
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 測試 | cèshì | to test (machinery etc); to test (a person's skill in a particular area) | HSK 4 |
| 檢測 | jiǎncè | to test; to detect | HSK 4 |
| 預測 | yùcè | to forecast; to predict | HSK 4 |
| 測量 | cèliáng | survey; to measure | HSK 4 |
| 猜測 | cāicè | to guess; to conjecture | HSK 5 |
| 監測 | jiāncè | to monitor | HSK 6 |
| 測定 | cèdìng | to determine (by measuring or surveying) | HSK 6 |
| 推測 | tuīcè | speculation; to conjecture | HSK 7-9 |
| 探測 | tàncè | to probe; to survey | HSK 7-9 |
| 測驗 | cèyàn | test; to test | HSK 7-9 |
| 觀測 | guāncè | to observe; to survey | HSK 7-9 |
| 揣測 | chuǎicè | to guess; to conjecture | HSK 7-9 |
| 測算 | cèsuàn | to take measurements and calculate | HSK 7-9 |
| 變幻莫測 | biànhuàn-mòcè | to change unpredictably; unpredictable | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 測
How many strokes are in 測?
測 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 測 mean?
測 (cè) means to survey, to measure; to estimate, 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 測?
測 is pronounced cè, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 測?
The radical of 測 is 氵, which carries the idea of "water". Dictionaries list 測 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 測?
測 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 测, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 測 and 量?
量 (liáng) is the everyday verb for measuring something concrete, like 量體溫 (liáng tǐwēn), to take a temperature. 測 is more formal or technical and usually appears inside compounds such as 測量 or 檢測.
How is 測 used to mean guess?
In words like 猜測 (cāicè) and 推測 (tuīcè), 測 means estimating something you cannot see directly. 猜測 is a casual guess, while 推測 is a guess based on reasoning.