2015年2月26日 · The literal translation of this idiom is something along the lines of, "feeling stones while crossing a river": 摸 — mō, to feel or grope. 着 — zhe, a particle denoting an action in progress. When combined with the previous character, you get 摸着, meaning " (currently) feeling". 石头 — shítou, stone (s). 河 — hé, river.