稽查 (jī chá) — (verb) to inspect, to audit (officially); (noun) inspection, audit; inspector

Definition

A formal verb/noun for official inspection or audit (e.g. customs, tax, compliance). Stronger and more official than 检查 'to check', and implies pursuing violations rather than routine review.

verb
to inspectto audit (officially)
noun
inspectionauditinspector

Examples

  • 稽查。
    Hǎi guān zhèng zài jī chá zhè pī jìn kǒu huò wù.
    Customs is inspecting this batch of imported goods.
  • 稽查。
    Zhè cì jī chá fā xiàn le xǔ duō wéi guī xíng wéi.
    This inspection uncovered many violations.
  • 稽查。
    Tā shì yì míng jī chá rén yuán.
    He is an inspection officer.

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.

稽jīinvestigate
查chácheck

稽 and 查 both convey checking or examining, so the sense is official inspection.

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
頁頁yèperson's head
Sound part声符shēngfú
旨
旨zhǐ稽jī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

稽 keeps 旨 for the sound; its original form used 頁, a person's head, for the meaning.

Open 稽 →

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 →

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