查 chá / zhā — to research; to check; to investigate; to examine; to refer to; to search
老师正在检查我们的作业。Lǎo shī zhèng zài jiǎn chá wǒ men de zuò yè.The teacher is checking our homework.
Common words: 检查 (jiǎn chá)、调查 (diào chá)、查看 (chá kàn)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to check"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to check", including 查 (chá / zhā), 考 (kǎo), 验 (yàn), 按 (àn), 校 (xiào / jiào), 卡 (kǎ / qiǎ). Study pinyin…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to check" covers 8 different Chinese characters — 查 (chá / zhā), 考 (kǎo), 验 (yàn), 按 (àn), 校 (xiào / jiào), 卡 (kǎ / qiǎ), 检 (jiǎn), 盘 (pán) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 8 characters do not share a sound — their readings span chá, zhā, kǎo, yàn, àn, xiào, and more — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 查 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 查 chá / zhāto research; to check; to investigate; to examine; to refer to; to searchUseful words: 检查, 调查
- 考 kǎoto check; to verify; to test; to examineUseful words: 考试, 考生
- 验 yànto examine; to test; to checkUseful words: 经验, 实验
- 按 ànto press (with the hand); to push; to control; to restrain; to check; pressing down (brush movement in painting)Useful words: 按照, 按时
- 校 xiào / jiàoproofread; to check; to compare; schoolUseful words: 学校, 校长
Common words for these 8 "to check" characters
Anchor each of these 8 characters in a word you can picture — start with 查 (chá / zhā) — so "to check" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
检查jiǎn cháinspection; to examine; to inspect调查diào cháinvestigation; inquiry; to investigate; to survey查看chá kànto look over; to examine; to check up; to ferret out考试kǎo shìto take an exam; exam考生kǎo shēngexam candidate; student whose name has been put forward for an exam考验kǎo yànto test; to put to the test; trial; ordeal经验jīng yànexperience; to go through; to experience实验shí yànexperiment; test; experimental; to experiment试验shì yànexperiment; test; to experiment; experimental按照àn zhàoaccording to; in accordance with; on the basis of
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 8 ways to say "to check".
考 kǎo — to check; to verify; to test; to examine
下周我们要考数学。Xià zhōu wǒ men yào kǎo shù xué.Next week we have a math exam.
Common words: 考试 (kǎo shì)、考生 (kǎo shēng)、考验 (kǎo yàn)
验 yàn — to examine; to test; to check
做完实验要写一份报告。Zuò wán shí yàn yào xiě yí fèn bào gào.After doing the experiment, you should write a report.
Common words: 经验 (jīng yàn)、实验 (shí yàn)、试验 (shì yàn)
按 àn — to press (with the hand); to push; to control; to restrain; to check; pressing down (brush movement in painting)
请按一下这个按钮。Qǐng àn yí xià zhè ge àn niǔ.Please press this button.
Common words: 按照 (àn zhào)、按时 (àn shí)、按摩 (àn mó)
校 xiào / jiào — proofread; to check; to compare; school
我们的学校有一个大操场。Wǒ men de xué xiào yǒu yí ge dà cāo chǎng.Our school has a big playground.
Common words: 学校 (xué xiào)、校长 (xiào zhǎng)、校园 (xiào yuán)
卡 kǎ / qiǎ — to check; to stop; to block; card; customs station; to be choked
我用银行卡付了钱。Wǒ yòng yín háng kǎ fù le qián.I paid with a bank card.
Common words: 信用卡 (xìn yòng kǎ)、银行卡 (yín háng kǎ)、卡车 (kǎ chē)
检 jiǎn — to check; to examine; to inspect
医生给他做了一次身体检查。Yī shēng gěi tā zuò le yí cì shēn tǐ jiǎn chá.The doctor gave him a physical examination.
Common words: 检查 (jiǎn chá)、检测 (jiǎn cè)、体检 (tǐ jiǎn)
盘 pán — big; wooden tray; dish; tray; to build; to check
妈妈端来一盘热腾腾的饺子。Mā ma duān lái yì pán rè téng téng de jiǎo zi.Mom brought over a plate of steaming dumplings.
Common words: 盘子 (pán zi)、光盘 (guāng pán)、键盘 (jiàn pán)
All 8 characters
Open 查、考、验 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.