Definition

1. Verb:
   • To guess, to conjecture, to surmise: To form an opinion or reach a conclusion based on incomplete, uncertain, or indirect evidence. It involves making an estimate or judgment without having full knowledge or proof.
   • To suppose, to speculate: To assume something to be true for the sake of argument or as a hypothesis.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Chúng tôi chỉ có thể phỏng đoán về nguyên nhân vụ tai nạn. (We can only guess/conjecture about the cause of the accident.)
  • Anh ấy phỏng đoán rằng cuộc họp sẽ kết thúc lúc 5 giờ. (He surmises/supposes that the meeting will end at 5 o'clock.)
  • Đừng phỏng đoán; hãy đi tìm sự thật. (Don't speculate; go find the facts.)

Advanced Usage

• "phỏng đoán" as a noun: In some contexts, the word can function as a noun meaning "a guess" or "a conjecture."
  • Đó chỉ là một phỏng đoán của tôi. (That is just a guess of mine.)
• "phỏng đoán khoa học": A scientific hypothesis or educated guess based on some preliminary evidence or theory.

Variants and Related Words

• Đoán (v): To guess. This is a more general and common term for guessing.
• Ước đoán (v): To estimate, to make an approximate calculation.
• Suy đoán (v): To infer, to deduce. Often implies a slightly more logical process than .

Synonyms

• Guess: To form an opinion without sufficient evidence.
• Conjecture: An opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information.
• Surmise: To suppose something is true without having evidence to confirm it.
• Speculate: To form a theory or conjecture without firm evidence.

Related Idioms

• Phỏng đoán mò: To make a wild guess, to guess blindly.
  • Anh ta không biết gì, chỉ đang phỏng đoán mò thôi. (He doesn't know anything, he's just making a wild guess.)

verb

1. to guess, to conjecture