究 jiū — after all; to investigate; to study carefully
科学家正在研究这种新药。Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū zhè zhǒng xīn yào.Scientists are researching this new medicine.
Common words: 研究 (yán jiū)、究竟 (jiū jìng)、研究生 (yán jiū shēng)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to investigate"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to investigate", including 究 (jiū), 查 (chá / zhā), 审 (shěn), 纠 (jiū). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to investigate" covers 4 different Chinese characters — 究 (jiū), 查 (chá / zhā), 审 (shěn), 纠 (jiū) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 4 characters do not share a sound — their readings span jiū, chá, zhā, shěn — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 究 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 究 jiūafter all; to investigate; to study carefullyUseful words: 研究, 究竟
- 查 chá / zhāto research; to check; to investigate; to examine; to refer to; to searchUseful words: 检查, 调查
- 审 shěnto examine; to investigate; carefully; to try (in court)Useful words: 审判, 审查
- 纠 jiūgather together; to investigate; to entangle; correctUseful words: 纠正, 纠纷
Common words for these 4 "to investigate" characters
Anchor each of these 4 characters in a word you can picture — start with 究 (jiū) — so "to investigate" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
研究yán jiūresearch; a study; to research; to look into究竟jiū jìngto go to the bottom of a matter; after all; when all is said and done; (in an interrogative sentence) finally研究生yán jiū shēnggraduate student; postgraduate student; research student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审判shěn pàna trial; to try sb审查shěn cháto examine; to investigate; to censor out; censorship审理shěn lǐto hear (a case)纠正jiū zhèngto correct; to make right
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 investigate".
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)
审 shěn — to examine; to investigate; carefully; to try (in court)
老师认真审阅了我们的作文。Lǎo shī rèn zhēn shěn yuè le wǒ men de zuò wén.The teacher carefully reviewed our essays.
Common words: 审判 (shěn pàn)、审查 (shěn chá)、审理 (shěn lǐ)
纠 jiū — gather together; to investigate; to entangle; correct
老师帮我纠正了发音上的错误。Lǎo shī bāng wǒ jiū zhèng le fā yīn shàng de cuò wù.The teacher helped me correct my pronunciation mistakes.
Common words: 纠正 (jiū zhèng)、纠纷 (jiū fēn)、纠缠 (jiū chán)
All 4 characters
Open 究、查、审 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.