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.
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