探明 (tàn míng) — to ascertain, to verify (through investigation or research)

Definition

A formal verb meaning to ascertain or verify through investigation or research — implies the answer was found after active exploration, not casual inquiry.

verb
to ascertainto verify (through investigation or research)

Examples

  • 探明。
    Kē xué jiā tōng guò shí yàn tàn míng le zhè zhǒng wù zhì de tè xìng.
    Scientists ascertained the properties of this substance through experiments.
  • ，探明。
    Jīng guò duō cì diào chá, jǐng fāng zhōng yú tàn míng le zhēn xiàng.
    After multiple investigations, the police finally verified the truth.
  • 探明。
    Dì zhì duì yòng xīn jì shù tàn míng le yóu tián de chǔ liàng.
    The geological team used new technology to ascertain the reserves of the oil field.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

探tànprobe
明míngclear

To 探 (probe) until things become 明 (clear), giving an ascertained result.

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.

Open 探 →

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

明 combines 日 (sun) and 月 (moon), showing the sun just rising while the moon has not yet set, or two bright objects in the sky, to express brightness.

Open 明 →

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