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Translation

sound out

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The phrase "sound out" has a couple of meanings in English, and I'll explain them in a simple way.

Basic Meaning
  1. To Try to Learn Someone's Opinions and Intentions: This means to ask someone questions or talk to them to understand what they think or feel about something. For example, if you want to know what your friend thinks about a new movie, you might "sound them out" by asking them about it.

  2. To Speak, Pronounce, or Utter Words Clearly: This means to say words in a way that helps others understand them, especially when learning to read. For example, when a child is learning to read, they might "sound out" the letters in a word to help them pronounce it.

Usage Instructions
  • Use "sound out" when you want to discuss understanding someone's feelings or opinions or when talking about pronouncing words clearly.
  • It is often followed by a person (e.g., "sound out my friend") or a word (e.g., "sound out a word").
Advanced Usage

In more advanced contexts, "sounding out" can refer to more strategic discussions, like in business or politics, where someone might gauge opinions before making a decision.

Word Variants

There aren’t direct variants of "sound out," but related words include: - Sounding (the act of sounding out) - Sound (the noun form) - Out (the adverb used in the phrase)

Different Meanings
  • Sound: As a noun, it refers to noise or something that can be heard.
  • Out: In other contexts, it can mean outside or not in a place.
Synonyms
  • Gauge: To measure or assess.
  • Probe: To explore or examine.
  • Ask: To inquire or seek information.
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
  • Sounding board: A person or group that provides feedback or opinions.
  • Sound off: To express one's opinions loudly or forcefully.
Summary

"Sound out" is a useful phrase in English. You can use it to talk about understanding people's thoughts or to describe the way someone pronounces words.

Verb
  1. try to learn someone's opinions and intentions
    • I have to sound out the new professor
  2. speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way
    • She pronounces French words in a funny way
    • I cannot say `zip wire'
    • Can the child sound out this complicated word?

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