"play by ear" in Chinese (Simplified)

• 随机应变
• 即兴发挥

Definition

在事情发展过程中再决定如何做，而不是事先计划好。也指不用乐谱演奏音乐，靠记忆或即兴发挥。

Usage Notes (Chinese (Simplified))

属于非正式对话。适用于临时决定或无法预先计划的场合。音乐中是不用乐谱演奏，日常中是指随情况应变。不要与“用耳朵听”混淆。

Examples

Let's play by ear and see what happens at the party.

我们就**随机应变**，看看聚会上会发生什么。

He can't read music, so he just plays by ear.

他不会识谱，所以只是**即兴演奏**。

We don't have a plan. We'll just play it by ear tomorrow.

我们没有计划。明天就**随机应变**吧。

Can we play it by ear for dinner plans? I’m not sure when I’ll finish work.

晚餐计划我们能不能**到时候再看**？我不确定什么时候下班。

I forgot my speech, so I guess I'll have to play it by ear.

我忘了我的发言稿，只能**即兴说了**。

I don't know if he'll come, so let's play it by ear and decide when we see who's here.

我不知道他来不来，所以我们**到时候再看**，看看都有谁在。