(shěn) — to examine; to investigate (in a formal manner); to try (a case in court)

Definition

审 (shěn) is a formal verb used almost only in compounds like 审查 ('censor/review documents'), 审核 ('audit'), and 审理 ('try a case') — rarely used alone in everyday speech.

verb
to examineto investigate (in a formal manner)to try (a case in court)

Examples

  • Fǎ guān bì xū gōng zhèng dì shěn zhè ge àn zi.
    The judge must try this case fairly.
  • Fǎ guān zhèng zài shěn lǐ zhè qǐ dào qiè àn.
    The judge is trying this theft case.
  • Gōng sī xū yào shěn chá suǒ yǒu shēn qǐng rén de zī gé.
    The company needs to examine all applicants' qualifications.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 審; 审 is its simplified writing.

  • miánroof
  • biànto distinguish
  • tián

The simplified 审 abbreviates the traditional 審, which is built from 宀 (roof) and 釆 (to distinguish); the lower 田 is uncertain.

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