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检 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
检
jiǎn
to check
HSK 3, vn, 11 strokes, radical 木, rank #2626, Medium
检
jiǎn
to examine
HSK 3, vn, 11 strokes, radical 木, rank #2626, Medium
检
jiǎn
to inspect
HSK 3, vn, 11 strokes, radical 木, rank #2626, Medium
检
jiǎn
to exercise restraint
HSK 3, vn, 11 strokes, radical 木, rank #2626, Medium
jiǎn(jian3)jian T3
1to check
2to examine
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March 24, 2026
检(檢)jiǎn(jian3)
The character 检 (jiǎn) means 'to check', 'to examine', or 'to inspect'. It is often used in contexts related to reviewing or assessing something, such as documents, health checks, or security inspections. The nuance of this character implies a careful and thorough approach to the act of checking.
Strokes11Radical木Frequency#2626DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 检 extends to various aspects of life, such as health inspections that reflect a societal emphasis on wellness and safety. Regular health check-ups are common, highlighting the importance of prevention in Chinese healthcare practices.
Memory tip
Imagine a detective with a magnifying glass (the radical 森, representing scrutiny) inspecting a check (the character's pronunciation 'jiǎn' sounds like 'check'). Visualize the detective meticulously examining every detail to ensure nothing is overlooked.
Meanings of 检
jiǎn(jian3)
1to check
2to examine
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
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About 检
检Simplified
檢Traditional
11Strokes
木Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#2626Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3
Podcast: 检
Podcast: 检
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AI study notes for 检
Quick Contrast
审 (shěn) — use 检 for general checking or inspecting, while 审 is more formal and often implies a detailed review or examination, especially in legal or official contexts.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is using 检 in overly casual contexts where a simpler term might suffice. It is typically used in more formal situations, such as in legal or medical settings. Be mindful of using the correct tone, as a mispronunciation can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
While 检 is not explicitly listed in the HSK levels, it connects well with other characters related to examination and inspection, such as 查 (chá - to investigate) and 试 (shì - to test). Students should focus on using this character in phrases related to checking or inspecting.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 检 with 查, both meaning 'to check', but 检 implies a more thorough examination than 查. For instance, saying '我查这个文件' (Wǒ chá zhège wénjiàn) is less formal than '我检查这个文件' (Wǒ jiǎnchá zhège wénjiàn).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 检
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 检 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.
检 = 木 + 佥. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 检
IDS Structure⿰木佥
检Full character
=
木Mu4
left
佥qian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 检?
How to say to check in Chinese
“to check” in Chinese is检jiǎn
The character 检 (jiǎn) means 'to check', 'to examine', or 'to inspect'. It is often used in contexts related to reviewing or assessing something, such as documents, health checks, or security inspections. The nuance of this character implies a careful and thorough approach to the act of checking.
When to use 检
A common mistake is using 检 in overly casual contexts where a simpler term might suffice. It is typically used in more formal situations, such as in legal or medical settings. Be mindful of using the correct tone, as a mispronunciation can change the meaning entirely.
检 or something close to it
审 (shěn) — use 检 for general checking or inspecting, while 审 is more formal and often implies a detailed review or examination, especially in legal or official contexts.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 检 with 查, both meaning 'to check', but 检 implies a more thorough examination than 查. For instance, saying '我查这个文件' (Wǒ chá zhège wénjiàn) is less formal than '我检查这个文件' (Wǒ jiǎnchá zhège wénjiàn).
Write 检
检
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Grammar patterns of 检
检 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 4 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.
Please help me check if the amount on this invoice is correct.
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Cultural Notes for 检
💡Did you know?
The character 检 is composed of the 'wood' radical and a component that suggests examination. This reflects the traditional practice of checking the quality of wood in ancient China.
Word Family of 检
Words containing this character20
检查jiǎncháinspection檢查
检测jiǎncèto detect檢測
检jiǎnto check檢
检察官jiǎncháguānpublic prosecutor檢察官
检验jiǎnyànto inspect檢驗
体检tǐjiǎnabbr. for 體格檢查|体格检查[tǐgéjiǎnchá]體檢
检察jiǎncháto inspect檢察
检索jiǎnsuǒto look up檢索
检察院jiǎncháyuànprosecutor's office檢察院
检疫jiǎnyìquarantine檢疫
安检ānjiǎnsafety check安檢
检讨jiǎntǎoreview檢討
纪检jìjiǎndisciplinary inspection紀檢
检修jiǎnxiūto overhaul檢修
检举jiǎnjǔto inform against sb檢舉
检查站jiǎncházhàncheckpoint檢查站
质检zhìjiǎnquarantine質檢
抽检chōujiǎnsampling抽檢
活检huójiǎnbiopsy活檢
检查员jiǎncháyuáninspector檢查員
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 检
What does 检查 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 检
Common phrases include '检查' (jiǎnchá), meaning 'to inspect' or 'to examine,' and '检讨' (jiǎntǎo), which means 'to review' or 'to reflect on one's mistakes.' These phrases show the versatility of 检 in different contexts.
检 is primarily used in formal contexts, such as official inspections or evaluations. However, it can also be used in everyday conversations when discussing checking or examining something, making it quite versatile.
检 (jiǎn) means 'to check,' 'to examine,' or 'to inspect.' It can refer to the act of reviewing or assessing something carefully, and it can also imply exercising restraint or control in certain contexts.
You can use 检 (jiǎn) in sentences such as '我需要检这个文件' (Wǒ xūyào jiǎn zhège wénjiàn), which means 'I need to check this document.' It often appears in contexts related to inspections, checks, or evaluations.
You can use 检 in sentences like '我需要检查看这份报告' (Wǒ xūyào jiǎnchá zhè fèn bàogào) which means 'I need to check this report'.
While 检 is often used in formal contexts, it can also appear in everyday conversations, especially when referring to checking something important.
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