察

詧

chá

宀 + 祭

Definitions

chá (verb) to examine; to observe; to inspect

chá (adjective) obvious; clearly evident

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 祭 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "eaves". The meaning later shifted to "observe from above", "examine", and "inspect".

Semantic: 宀 Phonetic: 祭

About

察 is a phonosemantic compound: 宀 (mián, "roof") provides the meaning and 祭 (jì) provides the sound. Its original meaning was "eaves" , the overhanging edge of a roof, a natural vantage point. From this, the meaning shifted to "observe from above", then broadened to "examine", "inspect", and "scrutinize". These senses persist in modern usage, where 察 appears in words for investigation and close observation.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

仔细观察大自然很有趣。

Zǐ xì guān chá dà zì rán hěn yǒu qù.

It is very interesting to observe nature carefully.

警察正在调查这个案件。

Jǐng chá zhèng zài diào chá zhè ge àn jiàn.

The police are investigating this case.

领导明天来视察工厂。

Lǐng dǎo míng tiān lái shì chá gōng chǎng.

The leaders will come to inspect the factory tomorrow.

我们察觉到了他的情绪变化。

Wǒ men chá jué dào le tā de qíng xù biàn huà.

We detected the change in his mood.

侦察员已经掌握了敌人的动向。

Zhēn chá yuán yǐ jīng zhǎng wò le dí rén de dòng xiàng.

The scouts have already grasped the enemy's movements.

我们需要审察这份合同的细节。

Wǒ men xū yào shěn chá zhè fèn hé tong de xì jié.

We need to scrutinize the details of this contract.

她具有洞察人心的能力。

Tā jù yǒu dòng chá rén xīn de néng lì.

She has the ability to see into people's hearts.

科学家通过数据分析来观测气候变化。

Kē xué jiā tōng guò shù jù fēn xī lái guān cè qì hòu biàn huà.

Scientists observe climate change through data analysis.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 宀

Component: 祭

察