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探究 (tàn jiū) — to investigate, to delve into, to explore (a topic or phenomenon in depth)

Definition

探究 is 'to investigate / delve into' a topic or question with intellectual depth. More focused on inquiry into an issue than 探索 (broader exploration of unknowns), and lighter than 钻研 (meticulous, specialist study).

verb
to investigateto delve intoto explore (a topic or phenomenon in depth)

Examples

  • 探究。
    Zhè xiàng yán jiū zhǐ zài tàn jiū qì hòu biàn huà duì nóng yè de yǐng xiǎng.
    This study aims to investigate the impact of climate change on agriculture.
  • 探究。
    Zhé xué jiā men cháng qī tàn jiū zì yóu yǔ zé rèn de guān xì.
    Philosophers have long delved into the relationship between freedom and responsibility.
  • 探究。
    Jì zhě shēn rù tàn jiū le zhè qǐ shì jiàn de zhēn xiàng.
    The journalist delved deeply into the truth of this incident.

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tànexplore
究jiūinvestigate

探 means explore and 究 means investigate, so 探究 is exploring and investigating deeply.

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 →

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
穴穴xuécave
Sound part声符shēngfú
九
九jiǔ究jiū
Same sound today

究 pairs 穴, a cave, with 九, which gives the sound.

Open 究 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Science (General)

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.