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抽查 (chōu chá) — to conduct a random inspection, to do a spot check

Definition

抽查 means a spot check or random inspection — selecting a few items from a larger group to see if they meet standards. 抽样 is the act of taking a sample; 核查 is a thorough verification, while 排查 is a systematic sweep for problems.

verb
to conduct a random inspectionto do a spot check

Examples

  • 抽查。
    Zhì jiǎn bù mén měi gè yuè dōu huì duì chǎn pǐn jìn xíng chōu chá.
    The quality control department conducts a random inspection of products every month.
  • 抽查。
    Lǎo shī chōu chá le quán bān tóng xué de zuò yè.
    The teacher did a spot check of the whole class's homework.
  • 抽查。
    Jǐng chá zài gāo sù gōng lù shàng chōu chá chē liàng shì fǒu chāo sù.
    The police conduct random inspections on the highway to check if vehicles are speeding.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

抽chōudraw/select
查cháinspect/check

“抽” indicates selecting or sampling, and “查” indicates checking; together it means a spot check.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
由
由yóu抽chōu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 扌 is the hand form, written in full as 手, and the right part 由 provides the sound.

Open 抽 →

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
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
且
且qiě查chá
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

查 pairs 木 (wood) with 且, which shows the sound. It originally meant a hawthorn tree or a wooden raft.

Open 查 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Management

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