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检察 (jiǎn chá) — to inspect, to examine (often in an official capacity); (law) to investigate and prosecute

Definition

检察 is the formal legal term for the state function of 'investigating and prosecuting' a case, carried out by procuratorial organs (检察机关). Contrast with 检验 (to test/inspect goods or quality) and 起诉 (the act of filing charges, narrower than 检察).

verb
to inspectto examine (often in an official capacity)(law) to investigate and prosecute
Easily confused

Examples

  • 检察。
    Hǎi guān rén yuán zhèng zài jiǎn chá huò wù.
    Customs officers are inspecting the goods.
  • 检察检察。
    jiǎn chá Jī guān yī fǎ duì àn jiàn jìn xíng jiǎn chá.
    The procuratorial organs investigate the case according to law.
  • 检察。
    Tā yīn shòu huì bèi jiǎn chá qǐ sù.
    He was prosecuted for bribery.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

检jiǎncheck
察cháexamine

The meanings of 检 and 察 join to express examining, investigating, or prosecuting.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 檢; 检 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
僉
僉qiān檢jiǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 檢 pairs 木 (wood) with 僉 as a sound part; it may originally have pictured a blade on top of a wooden spear. The simplified 检 is a later shorthand.

Open 检 →

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
祭
祭jì察chá
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape 察 combines 宀, a roof, with 祭 as the sound part.

Open 察 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Law & Justice

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