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检查 (jiǎn chá) — to examine, to check, to inspect

Definition

检查 (jiǎnchá) means 'to inspect / examine' — a thorough, often official check (body, luggage, work). 检验 is more technical/scientific testing; 考察 is on-site study of a place or project.

verb
to examineto checkto inspect
Measure word · 次
Easily confused

Examples

  • 检查。
    Qǐng zài jiǎn chá yí biàn zuò yè.
    Please check your homework again.
  • 检查。
    Yī shēng zhèng zài jiǎn chá wǒ de shēn tǐ.
    The doctor is examining my body.
  • 检查？
    Nǐ jiǎn chá guò xíng li le ma?
    Have you checked your luggage?

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jiǎnexamine
查chácheck

检 examine and 查 check together mean inspecting something.

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
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 →
Appears in
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