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查案 (chá àn) — to investigate a case

Definition

查案 means to investigate a case — a verb-object phrase (离合词) built from 查 ('look into') + 案 ('case'), used in formal or legal contexts like police work.

verb
to investigate a case

Examples

  • 查案。
    Jǐng chá zhèng zài chá àn.
    The police are investigating the case.
  • 查案。
    Tā huā le sān gè yuè chá àn.
    He spent three months investigating the case.
  • 查案。
    Zhè ge àn zi hěn nán chá àn.
    This case is difficult to investigate.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

查cháinvestigate
案àncase

The action of looking into in 查 combines with the case in 案 to mean investigate a case.

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
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 →

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mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
安
安ān案àn
Same sound today

案 pairs 木, a wood/tree shape, with 安, which is used for its sound.

Open 案 →
Appears in
Crime & Police

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