探口气 tànkǒuqi to sound someone out Definitions Defs Origin Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 探 tàn verbadjective to probe to test; to sound out; to probe (someone's opinion, water temperature, etc.)口气 口氣 kǒuqì implication The underlying meaning or intention conveyed through speech; also used when gauging someone's stance or opinion.