视 shì — to look at; to regard; to inspect
看书时间长了要注意保护视力。Kàn shū shí jiān cháng le yào zhù yì bǎo hù shì lì.When reading for a long time, pay attention to protecting your eyesight.
Common words: 电视 (diàn shì)、电视机 (diàn shì jī)、重视 (zhòng shì)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to inspect"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to inspect", including 视 (shì), 检 (jiǎn), 监 (jiān / jiàn), 鉴 (jiàn). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to inspect" covers 4 different Chinese characters — 视 (shì), 检 (jiǎn), 监 (jiān / jiàn), 鉴 (jiàn) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 4 characters do not share a sound — their readings span shì, jiǎn, jiān, jiàn — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 视 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 视 shìto look at; to regard; to inspectUseful words: 电视, 电视机
- 检 jiǎnto check; to examine; to inspectUseful words: 检查, 检测
- 监 jiān / jiànhard; strong; solid; firm; to supervise; to inspectUseful words: 监督, 监狱
- 鉴 jiànexample; mirror; to view; reflection; to reflect; to inspectUseful words: 鉴定, 鉴于
Common words for these 4 "to inspect" characters
Anchor each of these 4 characters in a word you can picture — start with 视 (shì) — so "to inspect" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
电视diàn shìtelevision; TV电视机diàn shì jītelevision set重视zhòng shìto attach importance to sth; to value检查jiǎn cháinspection; to examine; to inspect检测jiǎn cèto test; to detect体检tǐ jiǎnabbr. for 体格检查监督jiān dūto supervise; to oversee; to inspect监狱jiān yùprison监视jiān shìto monitor; to keep a close watch over; surveillance鉴定jiàn dìngto examine sth to determine its authenticity, quality, value etc; to appraise; to evaluate; to authenticate
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 4 ways to say "to inspect".
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)
监 jiān / jiàn — hard; strong; solid; firm; to supervise; to inspect
考试的时候有老师监考。Kǎo shì de shí hou yǒu lǎo shī jiān kǎo.During the exam there is a teacher invigilating.
Common words: 监督 (jiān dū)、监狱 (jiān yù)、监视 (jiān shì)
鉴 jiàn — example; mirror; to view; reflection; to reflect; to inspect
专家正在鉴定这件文物的真假。Zhuān jiā zhèng zài jiàn dìng zhè jiàn wén wù de zhēn jiǎ.The expert is appraising whether this relic is genuine.
Common words: 鉴定 (jiàn dìng)、鉴于 (jiàn yú)、鉴别 (jiàn bié)
All 4 characters
Open 视、检、监 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.