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查 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
查Zhāto researchHSK 3, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
查Zhāto checkHSK 3, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
查Zhāto investigateHSK 3, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
查Zhāto examineHSK 3, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
查Zhāto refer toHSK 3, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
查Zhāto searchHSK 3, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
查Zhāto investigate, to examine, to look intoHSK 3, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
查Zhāto look up (e.g. a word in a dictionary)HSK 3, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
查Zhāsurname ZhaHSK 3, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
查cháto researchHSK 3, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
查cháto checkHSK 3, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
查cháto investigateHSK 3, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
查cháto examineHSK 3, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
查cháto refer toHSK 3, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
查cháto searchHSK 3, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
查cháto investigate, to examine, to look intoHSK 3, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
查cháto look up (e.g. a word in a dictionary)HSK 3, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
查chásurname ZhaHSK 3, v, 9 strokes, radical 木, rank #468, Medium
chá(cha2)cha
primary
T2
  1. 1to research
  2. 2to check
Also a Chinese surname, Zha — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

查chá(cha2)

The character 查 (chá) primarily means 'to check' or 'to investigate.' It is commonly used in contexts involving research, examination, and looking up information, such as checking facts or searching for data in a dictionary. The nuance of this character suggests a thorough or careful examination.

Strokes9Radical木Frequency#468DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese academia, the act of 查 (chá) is crucial, as students are often encouraged to thoroughly check their sources and facts when conducting research. This reflects a cultural emphasis on diligence and accuracy in scholarship.

Memory Tip

Imagine a detective, holding a magnifying glass, carefully checking every detail of a crime scene. The character 查 resembles a person with a magnifying glass examining something closely, which helps you remember both the meaning (to check) and the pronunciation (chá).

Meanings of 查

chá(cha2)
primary
1to research
2to check
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 查 means.

About 查

查Simplified
9Strokes
木Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#468Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2YCTL3HSKKL1BCT✓CEFRA1

Podcast: 查

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Podcast: 查

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AI Study Notes for 查

Quick Contrast

查 (chá, to check) vs 查阅 (cháyuè, to consult) — use 查 when emphasizing the act of checking or investigating, whereas 查阅 implies looking up information in a reference material.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 查 with similar characters like 查阅 (cháyuè, to consult) or 研究 (yánjiū, to study), which can lead to incorrect usage. This character is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure you use it correctly when referring to checking information or conducting research.

HSK Study Tips

查 (chá) is a useful verb for HSK learners, particularly around HSK 3, as it connects well with other action verbs and can be used in various sentence constructions. Students should practice using it in sentences related to searching for information or checking facts.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 查 with 查阅 (cháyuè) when they mean to say 'check' rather than 'consult.' For example, saying '我查阅这个信息' instead of '我查这个信息' (I check this information) is incorrect in contexts requiring a simple check.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 查

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Etymology of 查

Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 且 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "hawthorn tree". The meaning "check; look up" is a phonetic loan.

Learn more about character formation (六书)

Decomposition of 查

IDS Structure⿱木旦
查Full Character
=
木Mu4
top
旦dan4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 查?

How to say to research in Chinese

“to research” in Chinese is查Zhā

The character 查 (chá) primarily means 'to check' or 'to investigate.' It is commonly used in contexts involving research, examination, and looking up information, such as checking facts or searching for data in a dictionary. The nuance of this character suggests a thorough or careful examination.

When to use 查

Learners often confuse 查 with similar characters like 查阅 (cháyuè, to consult) or 研究 (yánjiū, to study), which can lead to incorrect usage. This character is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure you use it correctly when referring to checking information or conducting research.

查 or something close to it

查 (chá, to check) vs 查阅 (cháyuè, to consult) — use 查 when emphasizing the act of checking or investigating, whereas 查阅 implies looking up information in a reference material.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 查 with 查阅 (cháyuè) when they mean to say 'check' rather than 'consult.' For example, saying '我查阅这个信息' instead of '我查这个信息' (I check this information) is incorrect in contexts requiring a simple check.

Write 查

查

Practice writing 查 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 查

查 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 9 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 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

你们应该去检____一下儿身体。

You should go get a physical checkup.

Common Confusions with 查

查vs差
chā

Similar pronunciation but different meanings

Exercise 1 of 1

Which one

Which one means “to research”?

or

Usage Notes for 查

Confusing 查 with other similar verbsCommon Error

Learners often confuse 查 with similar verbs like 查找 (to look for) or 查验 (to inspect). It's important to understand the context in which each verb is used.

1

我需要查一下这个词的意思。

I need to check the meaning of this word.

Exercise 1 of 1

Get it right

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

我需要____一下这个词的意思。

I need to check the meaning of this word.

Example Sentences for 查 (12)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
vto research2
1
在写论文之前,我需要查很多资料。

Zài xiě lùnwén zhīqián, wǒ xūyào chá hěn duō zīliào.

Before writing the thesis, I need to research a lot of information.
2
老师让我们查一下这个历史事件。

Lǎoshī ràng wǒmen chá yīxià zhège lìshǐ shìjiàn.

The teacher asked us to research this historical event.
vsurname Zha10
3
我正追查几件可能互相关联的事。

wǒ zhèng zhuī chá jī jiàn kě néng hù xiāng guān lián de shì。

I'm following up a few things that might dovetail.
4
理查德·张伯伦已经同意接拍《荆棘鸟》的续集。

lǐ chá dé· · zhāng bó lún yǐ jīng tóng yì jiē《 pāi 《 jīng》 jí niǎo 》。

Richard Chamberlain has agreed to make a sequel to "The Thorn Birds".
5
两名警官正在接受检察官的审查。

liǎng míng jǐng guān zhèng zài jiē shòu jiǎn chá guān de shěn chá。

The two officers were being investigated by the director of public prosecutions.
6
请查一下我的账户余额。

qǐng chá yī xià wǒ de zhàng hù yú é。

I'd like to check the balance in my account please.
7
从公司可以查到离你最近的零售商的名字。

cóng gōng sī kě yǐ chá dào lí nǐ zuì jìn de líng shòu shāng de míng zì。

The name of your nearest stockist is available from the company.
8
“也许你可以查一下书?”莫伊拉建议道。

“ “ yě xǔ nǐ kě yǐ chá yī xià?” shū ?” mò yī lā jiàn。

"Perhaps you could check the book?" Moira said helpfully.
9
你必须仔细检查并多方核对你所听到的每一件事。

nǐ bì xū zī xì jiǎn chá bìng duō fāng hé duì nǐ suǒ tīng dào de měi yī jiàn shì。

You have to scrupulously check and cross-check everything you hear.
10
调查已经展开,以查明灾难是如何发生的。

tiáo chá yǐ jīng zhǎn kāi, , yǐ chá míng zāi nán shì rú hé fā shēng。

An investigation is underway to find out how the disaster happened.
11
查利赚了8英镑,我赚了5英镑。

chá lì zhuàn le8 8 yīng, bàng , wǒ5 zhuàn le。

Charlie was earning eight pounds, I was earning five.
12
旅客通过入境检查后领取了自己的行李。

lǚ kè tōng guò rù jìng jiǎn chá hòu lǐng qǔ le zì jǐ de háng lǐ。

The passengers went through immigration control and collected their baggage.

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Cultural Notes for 查

💡Did you know?

In Chinese culture, checking the meaning of words or phrases is very important, especially in formal settings. Many people use dictionaries or mobile apps to ensure accuracy in communication.

Word Family of 查

Compounds12
渣zha1slag (in mining or smelting)
喳cha1to whisper
碴cha2quarrel; fault; a shard of glass
楂cha2raft; to hew, to fell trees
揸zha1handful; to grasp, to seize
猹cha2badger; a wild animal mentioned in a story by Lu Xun
嵖
皶
蹅
餷
馇cha1to stir, to cook, to boil; porridge
齄zha1red sores on the nose
Words Containing This Character20
调查diàocháinquiry調查
检查jiǎncháinspection檢查
查cháto check
搜查sōucháto search
查看chákànto look over
审查shěncháto examine審查
查出cháchūto find out
查询cháxúnto check查詢
查处cháchǔto investigate and handle (a criminal case)查處
追查to trace
查尔斯Charles查爾斯
侦查to detect偵查
查明chámíngto ascertain
查找cházhǎoto search for
抽查random inspection
查获cháhuòto track down and seize (a criminal suspect, contraband etc)查獲
核查to examine
复查fùchárechecking復查
普查census
查阅to consult查閱
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 查

What does 渣 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 查

Common phrases that include 查 (chá) are 查资料 (chá zīliào) meaning 'to look up information' and 查找 (cházhǎo) meaning 'to search for'. These phrases are useful in academic and research contexts.

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