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勘探 (kān tàn) — to explore, to survey, to prospect (for natural resources such as oil, minerals, etc.)

Definition

勘探 specifically means geological or scientific prospecting for oil, minerals, or other natural resources. It is narrower than 探索 (general exploration of ideas or fields) and more technical than 探测 (general probing/surveying).

verb
to exploreto surveyto prospect (for natural resources such as oil, minerals, etc.)

Examples

  • 勘探。
    Shí yóu gōng sī zhèng zài hǎi dǐ kān tàn xīn de yóu tián.
    The oil company is exploring new oil fields on the seabed.
  • 勘探，。
    Jīng guò chū bù kān tàn, zhuān jiā rèn wéi zhè lǐ yǒu fēng fù de kuàng chǎn zī yuán.
    After preliminary surveying, experts believe there are abundant mineral resources here.
  • 勘探。
    Dì zhì duì yòng le sān nián shí jiān kān tàn zhè piàn shān qū.
    The geological team spent three years prospecting this mountain area.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

勘kānexamine/survey
探tànprobe/explore

勘 means to examine or survey, and 探 means to probe or explore, so together they describe searching underground resources.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrong
Sound part声符shēngfú
甚
甚shèn勘kān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

勘 pairs 力 (strong) with 甚 (shèn) for sound; it means to look at carefully, strongly.

Open 勘 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
𥥍
𥥍𥥍探tàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 探, the 扌 part is a hand, and 𥥍 gives the sound.

Open 探 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Industry & ManufacturingScience (General)

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