察言观色 cháyánguānsè to read someone Origin Definitions Defs Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 察 chá nounverb to examine to examine closely; to observe; to inspect or investigate言 yán noun speech words; talk; what is said观 觀 guān verb to look at to look at; to watch; to observe or behold色 sè nounadjective expression facial expression; look; air