infer · push

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 推 has 11 strokes and the on-reading すい. 推測 (すいそく) concerns inference, while 推薦 (すいせん) concerns recommendation.
• Basic usage: 推測 involves judging from clues; 推薦 involves putting forward a person, book, or similar choice as suitable.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Inference and recommendation
  • 足跡の形から identifies the clue used to estimate an animal's size. 根拠のない推測 specifies an unsupported inference; 推測 itself does not always mean a baseless guess.
  • 先生の推薦を受けて means with a teacher's recommendation. 本を推薦してくれた describes recommending a book for someone, a different function from inferring facts with 推測.