察言觀色 chá yán guān sè

DEFINITIONS

  1. to weigh up sb's words and observe their facial expression (idiom)
  2. to discern what sb thinks from his body language

CHARACTERS

察 chá
HSK 4
examine, investigate; notice
言 yán
HSK 4
words, speech; speak, say
觀 guān see, observe, view; appearance
色 sè
HSK 2
color, tint, hue, shade; form, body; beauty, desire for beauty