检

檢

jiǎn

佥 + 木

Frequency#731

Definitions

jiǎn (verb) to check; to examine; to inspect

jiǎn (verb) to exercise restraint

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 佥 represents the sound. Simplified form of 檢. Based on the original meaning "label on a book". The meaning later shifted to "arrange" and "examine".

Semantic: 木 Phonetic: 佥

About

The character "检" derives from its traditional form "檢", structured with the wood radical (木) and the phonetic component "僉", originally referring to wooden labels or seals used for authentication and administrative control. Over time, its meaning expanded from these physical objects to encompass the abstract actions of verifying, inspecting, and restraining, evident in modern terms for examination and discipline. The simplified form "检" retains the wood radical but substitutes the phonetic with "佥", a streamlined component, while the character's semantic range, built upon its historical foundations, still covers concepts of scrutiny and regulation.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他检查了汽车。

Tā jiǎnchá le qìchē.

He checked the car.

请检查你的手机。

Qǐng jiǎnchá nǐ de shǒujī.

Please check your phone.

每天都要检票入场。

Měi tiān dōu yào jiǎnpiào rùchǎng.

Tickets are checked every day for entry.

学校定期检查消防安全。

Xuéxiào dìngqī jiǎnchá xiāofáng ānquán.

The school regularly inspects fire safety.

工程师检验了产品质量。

Gōngchéngshī jiǎnyàn le chǎnpǐn zhìliàng.

The engineer tested the product quality.

在登机前，乘客必须接受安检。

Zài dēngjī qián, chéngkè bìxū jiēshòu ānjiǎn.

Before boarding, passengers must undergo security check.

检察官仔细审查了案件的所有证据。

Jiǎncháguān zǐxì shěnchá le ànjiàn de suǒyǒu zhèngjù.

The prosecutor carefully reviewed all the evidence of the case.

通过显微镜检测，科学家发现了微小的细菌。

Tōngguò xiǎnwēijìng jiǎncè, kēxuéjiā fāxiàn le wēixiǎo de xìjūn.

Through microscope detection, scientists discovered tiny bacteria.

Related Characters

Component: 佥

Component: 木

检