1.
guesswork; conjecture; random guess
A guess made without solid evidence or basis; speculation based on little information. Often carries a slightly negative connotation, implying the guess is unreliable.
それは当て推量にすぎない。
That is nothing more than guesswork.
当て推量で物を言うな。
Don't speak based on guesswork.
証拠もなしに当て推量で犯人を決めつけるのは危険だ。
It is dangerous to decide on a culprit based on guesswork without evidence.
当て means 'aim' or 'guess,' and 推量 means 'conjecture' or 'inference' (the reading changes to ずいりょう in this compound). 当て推量 emphasizes that the guess is unfounded — a shot in the dark rather than a reasoned deduction.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 当て推量にすぎない (to be nothing more than guesswork)
- 当て推量で言う (to say based on guesswork)
- 当て推量をする (to make a random guess)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 推測 — guess, conjecture (more neutral; can be based on some reasoning)
- 憶測 — speculation (often negative; speculation without facts)
- 勘 — intuition, hunch (a gut feeling, not necessarily negative)