solve a riddle; guess the underlying meaning
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to solve a riddle; to guess the answer to a puzzle
Literal activity common during festivals or games.
Yuán元
xiāo宵
jié节
wǎn晚
shàng上
，
hěn很
duō多
rén人
jù聚
zài在
yì一
qǐ起
cāi猜
dēng灯
mí谜
。
On the night of the Lantern Festival, many people gather together to solve lantern riddles.
Zhè这
ge个
mí谜
yǔ语
tài太
nán难
le了
，
wǒ我
cāi猜
bù不
chū出
lái来
。
This riddle is too difficult; I can't solve it.
verb
to guess the underlying meaning; to read between the lines
informalOften used when someone is being indirect or ambiguous, and you have to figure out what they really mean.
Nǐ你
yǒu有
shén什
me么
huà话
jiù就
shuō说
chū出
lái来
，
bié别
ràng让
rén人
jia家
cāi猜
mí谜
。
If you have something to say, just say it; don't make people guess.
Lǎo老
bǎn板
de的
huà话
zǒng总
shì是
guǎi拐
wān弯
mò抹
jiǎo角
，
wǒ我
men们
děi得
cāi猜
tā他
de的
zhēn真
shí实
yì意
tú图
。
The boss always speaks indirectly; we have to guess his real intentions.
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Tā他
de的
xíng行
wéi为
hěn很
qí奇
guài怪
，
dà大
jiā家
dōu都
zài在
cāi猜
mí谜
，
bù不
zhī知
dào道
tā他
xiǎng想
gàn干
shén什
me么
。
His behavior is strange; everyone is trying to figure out what he wants to do.