ướm hỏi
Definition
- Verb:
- To sound out / to probe: To ask questions in a cautious, indirect, or tentative manner to gauge someone's opinion, interest, or reaction before making a formal request or proposal.
- To inquire preliminarily: To make an initial, non-committal inquiry about a possibility, such as the availability or price of something.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Anh ấy ướm hỏi ý kiến của sếp về kế hoạch mới. (He sounded out the boss's opinion on the new plan.)
- Cô ướm hỏi giá chiếc xe đã qua sử dụng. (She made a preliminary inquiry about the price of the used car.)
- Họ ướm hỏi xem gia đình bên kia có thiện chí không. (They probed to see if the other family was amenable.)
Advanced Usage
- The term often implies a strategic or diplomatic approach to avoid direct refusal, embarrassment, or revealing one's full intentions too early. It is common in contexts involving negotiations, marriage proposals, or sensitive business matters.
Variants and Related Words
Dò hỏi (v): to inquire, to probe. Often used similarly but can be slightly more direct than ướm hỏi.
- Phóng viên dò hỏi thông tin. (The reporter probed for information.)
Thăm dò (v): to survey, to gauge, to explore. Used for testing opinions or reactions, often on a broader scale.
- Công ty thăm dò thị trường. (The company conducted market research.)
Synonyms
- To sound out: To try to discover someone's views or intentions indirectly.
- To probe: To investigate or explore with questions.
- To make tentative inquiries: To ask initial, cautious questions.
Related Idioms
Ướm lời: To hint, to suggest indirectly (often in speech).
- Cô ấy ướm lời muốn được thăng chức. (She hinted that she wanted a promotion.)
Nói bóng gió: to speak in hints or allusions; to make veiled remarks. This is related as it describes indirect communication.
- Anh ta nói bóng gió về vấn đề tài chính. (He spoke in hints about the financial issue.)