Definition

1. Verb:
   • To guess: To form an opinion or give an answer about something without having enough information to be certain of being correct.
   • To conjecture: To form a theory or opinion about something without having all the necessary evidence; a more formal synonym for "guess."
   • To divine: To discover or perceive something intuitively or by insight, as if by magic.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Tôi đoán trời sắp mưa. (I guess it is going to rain.)
  • Bạn có thể đoán tôi bao nhiêu tuổi không? (Can you guess how old I am?)
  • Nhà nghiên cứu đoán rằng nguyên nhân là do virus. (The researcher conjectured that the cause was a virus.)

Advanced Usage

• "Đoán mò": To make a wild guess, to guess randomly without any basis.

  • Đừng đoán mò, hãy suy nghĩ kỹ trước khi trả lời. (Don't just guess randomly; think carefully before answering.)

• "Đoán trước" / "Đoán trúng": To predict correctly, to guess right.

  • Cô ấy đã đoán trước được kết quả của trận đấu. (She correctly predicted the outcome of the match.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dự đoán (v): To forecast, to predict. This implies a more calculated estimation, often based on data or trends.

  • Các chuyên gia dự đoán kinh tế sẽ phục hồi. (Experts forecast that the economy will recover.)

• Phỏng đoán (v): To speculate, to hypothesize. This suggests forming a theory based on incomplete evidence.

  • Đây chỉ là phỏng đoán của cảnh sát. (This is just police speculation.)

Synonyms

• Guess: The most common and general term.
• Conjecture: A formal guess, often based on incomplete information.
• Speculate: To form a theory without firm evidence.
• Predict: To say what will happen in the future.

Related Idioms

• Đoán già đoán non: To guess this way and that; to make repeated, uncertain guesses.

  • Cả phòng đoán già đoán non về danh tính của vị khách bí ẩn. (The whole room made all sorts of guesses about the mysterious guest's identity.)

• Đoán như thần / Đoán thần sầu: To guess with incredible, almost divine, accuracy.

  • Cậu ấy đoán đúng hết các câu hỏi, đúng là đoán như thần. (He guessed all the questions correctly; it was like he had a sixth sense.)

verb

1. to guess; to conjecture; to divine