督察 (dū chá) — to supervise, to inspect

Definition

A formal written verb meaning to officially supervise or inspect — typically used for higher authorities checking the work of subordinate units, stronger in tone than 监督.

verb
to superviseto inspect
Easily confused

Examples

  • 督察。
    Shàng jí bù mén jīng cháng dū chá gè dān wèi de cái wù gōng zuò.
    Higher authorities often inspect the financial work of each unit.
  • 督察，。
    Tā men fù zé dū chá gōng chéng zhì liàng, què bǎo bù chū xiàn shì gù.
    They are responsible for supervising engineering quality to ensure there are no accidents.
  • 督察。
    Zhè ge wěi yuán huì de zhǔ yào zhí zé shì dū chá zhèng cè de zhí xíng qíng kuàng.
    The main responsibility of this committee is to supervise the implementation of policies.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

督dūsupervise
察cháinspect

督 means to supervise, and 察 means to examine; both point to close oversight.

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
目目mùeye
Sound part声符shēngfú
叔
叔shū督dū
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

督 pairs 目 (eye) with 叔, which gives the sound; the shape shows looking over or overseeing with eyes.

Open 督 →

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
Government & PoliticsManagement

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