观察 (guān chá) — to observe; to watch; to survey

Definition

观察 means to observe closely and systematically, often for study or analysis (a doctor watching a patient, a scientist tracking cells). It's more deliberate and analytical than 观看, which is just 'to watch' a show or scene.

verb
to observeto watchto survey
Easily confused

Examples

  • 观察。
    Kē xué jiā yòng xiǎn wēi jìng guān chá xì bāo de biàn huà.
    Scientists use microscopes to observe changes in cells.
  • 观察。
    Lǎo shī yì zhí zài guān chá xué shēng men de fǎn yìng.
    The teacher has been observing the students' reactions.
  • 观察。
    Yī shēng xū yào guān chá bìng rén de bìng qíng fā zhǎn.
    The doctor needs to observe the patient's condition development.

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.

观guānlook
察cháexamine

观 means look and 察 means examine, so together they mean to observe carefully.

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 觀; 观 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
見見jiànsee
Sound part声符shēngfú
雚
雚guàn觀guān
Same sound today

The traditional form 觀 uses 見 (see) for meaning and 雚 for sound.

Open 观 →

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
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