Translation guide
The act of making a guess or relying on guesses rather than certain knowledge.
Expressing that something is based on guesswork, not on solid evidence or calculation.
A common, slightly casual noun meaning a random guess or shot in the dark. Often used when someone is just guessing without any basis.
彼の答えは当てずっぽうだった。
His answer was just guesswork.
A more formal noun meaning conjecture or inference. Can be used for educated guesswork, but also for speculation.
A colloquial noun meaning a hunch or intuitive guess, often used in gambling or business contexts.
Describing an action performed by guessing, without certainty.
Use this pattern to say you do something by guesswork. 当てずっぽうで functions adverbially.
当てずっぽうで答えた。
I answered by guesswork.
Literally 'by intuition', this is a very natural way to say you did something based on a gut feeling or guess.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches 'guesswork' in all contexts. Avoid trying to translate it directly as a noun; instead, use the adverbial patterns or specific nouns like 当てずっぽう.
それは単なる推測に過ぎない。
That's nothing more than guesswork.
I bought stocks based on guesswork.
I operated it by guesswork and it worked.
Literally 'by groping', used when you proceed by trial and error or guesswork in an unfamiliar situation.
手探りで問題を解いた。
I solved the problem by guesswork.