In many Western cultures, particularly American culture, communication is “low-context,” meaning people are expected to be direct and say what they mean. If you don't understand something, you're encouraged to ask for clarification directly. Chinese culture, however, is a “high-context” society. Communication is often indirect to maintain social harmony (和谐, héxié) and protect everyone's “face” (面子, miànzi). People may avoid saying “no” directly or will phrase criticism in a very subtle way. This is where 揣摩 becomes a critical social skill. The ability to 揣摩 (chuāimó) another person's true meaning without forcing them to be blunt is a sign of high emotional intelligence (情商, qíngshāng) and social grace. For example, an American boss might say, “This report needs to be redone by Friday.” A Chinese boss might say, “This report is quite good, but perhaps some areas could be explored more deeply. Take another look when you have time.” The employee is expected to 揣摩 the boss's comment and understand it means, “This is not good enough. Redo it.” Not understanding this requires you to 揣摩 can lead to major misunderstandings in both personal and professional settings in China.