推敲 tuīqiāo to think over
How to remember 推敲: 推 push + 敲 knock = to think over.
Characters
How it is used
- To weigh and polish wording or details carefully - 反复推敲每一个字 (fǎnfù tuīqiāo měi yí ge zì) mull over every word again and again.
- From the classic story of choosing 推 vs 敲 in a poem; now used for painstakingly deliberating over phrasing or plans.