Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
侦(偵)zhēn(zhen1)
The character 侦 (zhēn) means to scout or spy, often used in the context of investigation or reconnaissance. It is commonly associated with activities related to detecting information or gathering intelligence, both in military and everyday contexts.
Strokes8Radical亻Frequency#10621DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of spying or investigation holds significance in both historical tales, such as those involving espionage during wartime, and in modern media, like detective dramas.
Memory Tip
Imagine a detective (侦) wearing a magnifying glass, scouting for clues. The character has a person (亻) on the left indicating action related to a person, and the right side resembles a 'sight' with the 'eye' looking for hidden details.
Meanings of 侦
zhēn(zhen1)
1to scout
2to spy
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 侦 means.
About 侦
侦Simplified
偵Traditional
8Strokes
亻Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#10621Frequency Rank
Podcast: 侦
Podcast: 侦
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 侦
Quick Contrast
侦 (zhēn) vs 监 (jiān) — use 侦 when referring specifically to scouting or spying, while 监 relates more to monitoring or surveillance.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 侦 with its variant 偵, which also means to spy. This character is more formal and commonly used in contexts involving police or military investigations, so avoid using it in casual conversation.
HSK Study Tips
Although 侦 is not in the HSK lists, it connects with related terms like 侦查 (zhēnchá) meaning 'investigate'. Focus on how this character combines with other words to expand your vocabulary related to law enforcement or intelligence.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 侦 with similar characters like 侦查 (to investigate) and use it incorrectly in casual contexts. For example, saying '我侦我家' (I spy my home) is incorrect; a better phrase would be '我在侦查情况' (I am investigating the situation).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 侦
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 侦 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 侦 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 侦?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 侦 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
侦 = 亻 + 贞. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 侦
IDS Structure⿰亻贞
侦Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
贞zhen1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 侦?
How to say to scout in Chinese
“to scout” in Chinese is侦zhēn
The character 侦 (zhēn) means to scout or spy, often used in the context of investigation or reconnaissance. It is commonly associated with activities related to detecting information or gathering intelligence, both in military and everyday contexts.
When to use 侦
Be careful not to confuse 侦 with its variant 偵, which also means to spy. This character is more formal and commonly used in contexts involving police or military investigations, so avoid using it in casual conversation.
侦 or something close to it
侦 (zhēn) vs 监 (jiān) — use 侦 when referring specifically to scouting or spying, while 监 relates more to monitoring or surveillance.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 侦 with similar characters like 侦查 (to investigate) and use it incorrectly in casual contexts. For example, saying '我侦我家' (I spy my home) is incorrect; a better phrase would be '我在侦查情况' (I am investigating the situation).
Write 侦
侦
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 侦 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 侦
侦 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我留下一名中士指挥，自己策马前去____察敌情。
I left a sergeant in command and rode forward to reconnoitre.
