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审 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
审
shěn
to examine
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 宀, rank #5935, Very Hard
审
shěn
to investigate
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 宀, rank #5935, Very Hard
审
shěn
carefully
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 宀, rank #5935, Very Hard
审
shěn
to try (in court)
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 宀, rank #5935, Very Hard
审
shěn
to examine, to investigate; to judge; to try
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 宀, rank #5935, Very Hard
shěn(shen3)shen T3
1to examine
2to investigate
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March 24, 2026
审(審)shěn(shen3)
The character 审 (shěn) means to examine or investigate something carefully. It is commonly used in legal contexts, such as court trials, where evidence and testimonies are scrutinized. The term also conveys a sense of thoroughness in judgment or evaluation in various situations.
Strokes8Radical宀Frequency#5935DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of careful examination is deeply ingrained in legal proceedings. The phrase 审判 (shěnpàn) reflects the importance of justice and thoroughness in the Chinese legal system, where decisions often carry significant weight.
Memory tip
Imagine a detective (the radical 宀 represents a house, where the examination takes place) carefully scrutinizing evidence in a courtroom. The sound 'shěn' can be remembered as 'she's in' the investigation, emphasizing the careful review happening.
Meanings of 审
shěn(shen3)
1to examine
2to investigate
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 审 means.
About 审
审Simplified
審Traditional
8Strokes
宀Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#5935Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 审
Podcast: 审
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AI study notes for 审
Quick Contrast
审 (shěn) vs 检 (jiǎn): Use 审 for a deeper, more thorough examination, particularly in legal contexts, while 检 implies a lighter or more superficial check.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 审 with similar-sounding characters, like 申 (shēn), which means to apply or state. 审 is more formal and used in legal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Typical collocations include 审查 (shěnchá, to examine or inspect) and 审判 (shěnpàn, to try a case in court).
HSK Study Tips
Although 审 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is relevant for learners at higher levels who are interested in legal or formal language. Students should focus on its usage in legal contexts and practice constructing sentences that involve examination or judgment.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 审 with 申 (shēn), mistakenly using 审 when they mean to apply for something. For example, saying '我想审请假' should be corrected to '我想申请请假 (I want to apply for leave)'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 审
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 审 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.
审 = 宀 + 申. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 审
IDS Structure⿱宀申
审Full character
=
宀gai4
top
申Shen1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 审?
How to say to examine in Chinese
“to examine” in Chinese is审shěn
The character 审 (shěn) means to examine or investigate something carefully. It is commonly used in legal contexts, such as court trials, where evidence and testimonies are scrutinized. The term also conveys a sense of thoroughness in judgment or evaluation in various situations.
When to use 审
A common mistake is to confuse 审 with similar-sounding characters, like 申 (shēn), which means to apply or state. 审 is more formal and used in legal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Typical collocations include 审查 (shěnchá, to examine or inspect) and 审判 (shěnpàn, to try a case in court).
审 or something close to it
审 (shěn) vs 检 (jiǎn): Use 审 for a deeper, more thorough examination, particularly in legal contexts, while 检 implies a lighter or more superficial check.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 审 with 申 (shēn), mistakenly using 审 when they mean to apply for something. For example, saying '我想审请假' should be corrected to '我想申请请假 (I want to apply for leave)'.
Write 审
审
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Practice writing 审 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 审
审 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
两名警官正在接受检察官的____查。
The two officers were being investigated by the director of public prosecutions.
Example sentences for 审 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
两名警官正在接受检察官的审查。
liǎng míng jǐngguān zhèngzài jiēshòu jiǎnchá guān de shěnchá。
The two officers were being investigated by the director of public prosecutions.
