估计
gūjì
The Chinese word for estimate is 估计 (gūjì).
估计 can be used as a noun meaning an estimate, or as a verb meaning to estimate or to reckon.
Meaning: (construction and business) a document specifying how much a job will probably cost (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 估计 is a general term for an estimate or estimation, 估价 is used more specifically when the estimate refers strictly to a monetary value or price. In construction and business, it can refer to a document specifying how much a job will probably cost.
How do you pronounce it?
gūjì
Did you know?
- When a Chinese speaker says 我估计 ('I estimate'), they are often signaling a polite lack of certainty to avoid being held strictly accountable for the answer.
- The character 计 (jì) in 估计 is also the root for the word 'computer' (计算机), reflecting the historical connection between calculation, counting, and logic.
- The character 估 consists of a 'person' radical and a phonetic component, originally relating to the act of a person assessing the value of goods in a marketplace.
Examples in context
- 你估计做那件事需要花费你多少时间呢？How much time do you estimate it'll take you to do that?This sentence is useful for asking someone to estimate the time required for a task using 估计.Tatoeba #8751437 by slo_oth, translation #6229900 by CK
- 请对这份材料进行评估。Please evaluate this document.
- 我们需要对市场进行预估。We need to estimate the market.
- 我估摸着得花一天的时间。I estimate it will take a whole day.
- 我们可以算一算这个项目的费用。We can estimate the cost of this project.
- 这个价格大概在五百到六百之间。This price is estimated to be between 500 and 600.
Example conversation
Two people are discussing a home repair project.
- 浩然 Haoran梓涵，你收到那个修理的估计了吗？Zǐhán, nǐ shōudào nàge xiūlǐ de gūjì le ma?Zihan, did you receive the estimate for the repair?
- 梓涵 Zihan收到了，但我觉得金额不对。Shōudào le, dàn wǒ juéde jīn'é bùduì.I did, but I think the amount is wrong.
- 浩然 Haoran你认为估计得太高了吗？Nǐ rènwéi gūjì dé tài gāo le ma?Do you think the estimate is too high?
- 梓涵 Zihan是的，我们需要找另一家公司。Shì de, wǒmen xūyào zhǎo lìng yī jiā gōngsī.Yes, we need to find another company.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
