Definition
探听 means 'to find out' or 'to make inquiries', but unlike the more general 打听, it carries a nuance of doing so discreetly, indirectly, or stealthily — you are trying to obtain information without making it obvious. It is a transitive verb and is not separable (离合词). Use it when you want to suggest that the inquiry is subtle or behind-the-scenes.
v.
to try to find out (information) through subtle or discreet inquiryto sound out
Examples
- 探听。Tā xiǎng tàn tīng yíxià duìfāng de zhēnshí xiǎngfǎ.He wants to discreetly find out the other party's true thoughts.
- 探听。Jìzhě duōcì dào shìfā dìdiǎn tàn tīng qíngkuàng.The reporter went to the scene multiple times to make inquiries about the situation.
- 探听。Bié sìchù tàn tīng biérén de yǐnsī.Don't go around prying into other people's private matters.
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