探视 (tàn shì) — to visit (a patient or prisoner) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal verb meaning to visit someone in a restricted setting like a hospital or prison — implying the visit is regulated, not casual. More formal than 看望, which is the everyday word for visiting people generally.

verb

to visit (a patient or prisoner)

Examples

探视。
Wǒ xià wǔ qù yī yuàn tàn shì yí gè péng you.
I'm going to the hospital this afternoon to visit a friend.
探视。
Jiān yù měi yuè yǔn xǔ yí cì tàn shì.
The prison allows one visit per month.
探视。
Yī shēng guī dìng jiā shǔ měi tiān zhǐ néng tàn shì bàn xiǎo shí.
The doctor stipulates that family members can only visit for half an hour each day.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

探 means to visit and 视 means to look, so the word describes visiting to see someone.

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

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.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 視; 视 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

見見jiànsee

Sound part声符shēngfú

示

示shì視shì

Same sound today

The story is about the traditional form 視: it combines 見, meaning see, with 示, which gives the sound shì.

Appears in

Crime & Police Hospital & Clinic

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