to scout; to sound out; to gather intelligence
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to scout out; to sound out; to gather intelligence secretly
Often used to describe discreetly inquiring about a situation, gauging reactions, or gathering intelligence before taking action. Can imply either casual inquiry or secretive reconnaissance.
Tā他
pài派
le了
jǐ几
gè个
rén人
qù去
tàn探
fēng风
，
kàn看
kan看
duì对
fāng方
yǒu有
shén什
me么
dòng动
jing静
。
He sent a few people to scout out the situation and see what the other side was up to.
Nǐ你
xiān先
qù去
kàn看
kan看
qíng情
kuàng况
，
tàn探
tan探
fēng风
zài再
shuō说
。
You go check out the situation first and sound things out before we decide.
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Jǐng警
fāng方
pài派
rén人
wò卧
dǐ底
tàn探
fēng风
，
sōu搜
jí集
fàn犯
zuì罪
zhèng证
jù据
。
The police sent undercover officers to gather intelligence and collect evidence of the crime.
Wǒ我
men们
qù去
shāng商
chǎng场
tàn探
fēng风
，
kàn看
kan看
cù促
xiāo销
huó活
dòng动
shén什
me么
shí时
hou候
kāi开
shǐ始
。
We went to the mall to scope out when the promotional events would start.