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检察 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
检察jiǎncháto inspectHSK 7, unknown, 25 strokes, rank #21631, Very Hard
检察jiǎnchá(law) to prosecuteHSK 7, unknown, 25 strokes, rank #21631, Very Hard
检察jiǎncháto investigateHSK 7, unknown, 25 strokes, rank #21631, Very Hard
jiǎnchá(jian3cha2)jian cha T3
  1. 1to inspect
  2. 2(law) to prosecute
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March 24, 2026

检察(檢察)jiǎnchá(jian3cha2)

检察 (jiǎnchá) refers to the act of inspecting, investigating, or overseeing, often in a legal context where it means to prosecute or examine evidence. It is commonly used in discussions about the judicial system, law enforcement, or audits, highlighting the importance of scrutiny and accountability.

Strokes25Frequency#21631DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In China, the role of 检察 (prosecution) is significant in maintaining social order and upholding the law, reflecting the state’s emphasis on legal authority and accountability in governance.

Memory tip

Think of 检 (jiǎn) as a 'check' with a roof (the top component) sheltering it, indicating oversight, and 察 (chá) as 'to observe' with a person (the bottom component) looking closely. Together, you can visualize a diligent inspector checking a case under a roof, ensuring justice.

Meanings of 检察

jiǎnchá(jian3cha2)
1to inspect
2(law) to prosecute
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About 检察

检察Simplified
檢察Traditional
25Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2

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Podcast: 检察

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AI study notes for 检察

Quick Contrast

审查 (shěnchá) - use 检察 for legal prosecution or investigation, while 审查 is more about review or examination, especially in administrative contexts.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context when using 检察, as it is more formal and specific to legal situations, unlike more general terms for 'check' or 'inspect'. Common collocations include 检察官 (prosecutor) and 检察工作 (inspection work). Avoid using it in casual conversations.

HSK Study Tips

检察 is not included in the HSK levels, but it relates to legal vocabulary that may appear in advanced studies. Focus on understanding its usage in legal contexts and how it connects to words like 法律 (law) and 诉讼 (lawsuit).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 检察 with 检查 (jiǎnchá), using 检察 in informal contexts. For instance, saying '我检查我的书' (I 检察 my book) is incorrect; it should be '我检查我的书' using 检查 for general inspection.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 检察

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Component characters

检jiǎnto check
HSK 311 strokes木
View full entry
察cháto examine
14 strokes宀
View full entry

How to say to inspect in Chinese

“to inspect” in Chinese is检察jiǎnchá

检察 (jiǎnchá) refers to the act of inspecting, investigating, or overseeing, often in a legal context where it means to prosecute or examine evidence. It is commonly used in discussions about the judicial system, law enforcement, or audits, highlighting the importance of scrutiny and accountability.

When to use 检察

Be mindful of the context when using 检察, as it is more formal and specific to legal situations, unlike more general terms for 'check' or 'inspect'. Common collocations include 检察官 (prosecutor) and 检察工作 (inspection work). Avoid using it in casual conversations.

检察 or something close to it

审查 (shěnchá) - use 检察 for legal prosecution or investigation, while 审查 is more about review or examination, especially in administrative contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 检察 with 检查 (jiǎnchá), using 检察 in informal contexts. For instance, saying '我检查我的书' (I 检察 my book) is incorrect; it should be '我检查我的书' using 检查 for general inspection.

Write 检察

检
察

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Frequently asked questions about 检察

检察 specifically relates to legal investigations and prosecutions, while other terms like 检查 (jiǎnchá) can mean to check or examine in general contexts.

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