jiǎnchá: 检查 - To Check, Inspect, Examine

• Keywords: jiancha, 检查, check in Chinese, inspect in Chinese, examine Chinese, what does jiancha mean, medical check-up in Chinese, security check, checking homework, Chinese grammar, learn Chinese
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 检查 (jiǎnchá), a core Chinese word for “to check,” “inspect,” or “examine.” This comprehensive guide explains how to use 检查 in various contexts, from a doctor's examination and an airport security check to a teacher checking homework. Learn its cultural significance, see practical examples, and avoid common mistakes to use this essential HSK 3 verb and noun like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiǎnchá
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: 3
• Concise Definition: To check, inspect, or examine something carefully for correctness, safety, or condition.
• In a Nutshell: 检查 (jiǎnchá) isn't just a quick glance; it's a purposeful and often formal process of examination. Think of it as the action of looking something over against a standard or with a specific goal in mind. Whether it's a doctor performing a health check-up, a mechanic inspecting a car, or you double-checking your own work for errors, 检查 implies a degree of thoroughness and responsibility.

• 检 (jiǎn): This character's radical is 木 (mù), meaning “wood.” Historically, it related to sorting or examining wooden slips, which were used for writing. It carries the core meaning of “to inspect” or “to examine against a standard.”
• 查 (chá): This character also contains the wood radical 木 (mù). It means “to check,” “to investigate,” or “to look into.” Think of looking for a piece of information or investigating a situation.
• When combined, 检查 (jiǎnchá) creates a powerful word that means to inspect (检) and investigate (查). It's a comprehensive examination to ensure everything is in order.

In Chinese culture, which often values order, process, and collective well-being, the concept of 检查 is fundamental. It appears in many facets of life, often with a more formal and serious connotation than the English word “check.” Compared to the versatile English word “check,” which can mean anything from “check a box” to “check in a hotel,” 检查 is specifically about inspection and examination. For example, in the West, a boss might casually say, “I'll check on your progress.” In a Chinese workplace, a manager might formally announce, “明天我要来检查你们的工作” (Míngtiān wǒ yào lái jiǎnchá nǐmen de gōngzuò - “Tomorrow I am coming to inspect your work”). This implies a more structured review, not just a casual look. This value is especially visible in:

• Health: The annual physical 身体检查 (shēntǐ jiǎnchá) is a deeply ingrained concept, seen as a crucial responsibility for maintaining health.
• Safety & Security: Rigorous security checks (安全检查 - ānquán jiǎnchá) at airports and train stations are accepted as a necessary part of public life.
• Education: Teachers regularly 检查作业 (jiǎnchá zuòyè), or check homework, reinforcing the importance of diligence and correctness.

检查 is a high-frequency word used in both formal and everyday situations. Its meaning is consistent, but the context dictates the specific type of inspection.

• Medical Context: This is one of the most common uses. It can refer to a general check-up or a specific examination.
• Security Context: Used for any kind of security screening, from airports to building entrances.
• Academic Context: Teachers checking homework, exams, or students checking their own answers.
• Workplace/Technical Context: Managers inspecting processes, or engineers examining equipment to ensure it's functioning correctly.
• As a Noun: 检查 can also mean “an inspection” or “an examination.” For example, “这次检查很严格” (zhè cì jiǎnchá hěn yángé) - “This inspection was very strict.”

• Example 1: (Medical Check-up)
  • 我每年都做一次身体检查。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měi nián dōu zuò yī cì shēntǐ jiǎnchá.
  • English: I get a physical check-up once every year.
  • Analysis: Here, 身体检查 (shēntǐ jiǎnchá) is a set phrase for a physical examination or check-up. 检查 acts as a noun.
• Example 2: (Security Check)
  • 进地铁站以前，所有人都需要通过安全检查。
  • Pinyin: Jìn dìtiě zhàn yǐqián, suǒyǒu rén dōu xūyào tōngguò ānquán jiǎnchá.
  • English: Before entering the subway station, everyone needs to go through a security check.
  • Analysis: 安全检查 (ānquán jiǎnchá) is the standard term for a security check. Here again, 检查 is used as a noun.
• Example 3: (Doctor Examining Patient)
  • 医生正在给病人检查喉咙。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng zhèngzài gěi bìngrén jiǎnchá hóulóng.
  • English: The doctor is examining the patient's throat.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 检查 is a verb. It shows a specific action of examination.
• Example 4: (Checking Homework)
  • 老师每天都检查我们的作业。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī měitiān dōu jiǎnchá wǒmen de zuòyè.
  • English: The teacher checks our homework every day.
  • Analysis: A classic example of 检查 in an academic context. It implies checking for completeness and correctness.
• Example 5: (Checking for Errors)
  • 发送邮件之前，请仔细检查一下有没有错别字。
  • Pinyin: Fāsòng yóujiàn zhīqián, qǐng zǐxì jiǎnchá yīxià yǒu méiyǒu cuòbiézì.
  • English: Before sending the email, please carefully check for any typos.
  • Analysis: The phrase 检查一下 (jiǎnchá yīxià) slightly softens the formality, making it a polite request to “give it a check.”
• Example 6: (Police Inspection)
  • 警察要求检查我的身份证。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá yāoqiú jiǎnchá wǒ de shēnfènzhèng.
  • English: The police officer requested to inspect my ID card.
  • Analysis: This usage highlights the formal, authoritative nature of 检查.
• Example 7: (Technical Inspection)
  • 工人正在检查机器是否正常工作。
  • Pinyin: Gōngrén zhèngzài jiǎnchá jīqì shìfǒu zhèngcháng gōngzuò.
  • English: The worker is inspecting the machine to see if it's operating normally.
  • Analysis: Shows the use of 检查 in a technical or industrial context, focusing on function and safety.
• Example 8: (Self-Check)
  • 出门前，我总会检查门窗是否都关好了。
  • Pinyin: Chūmén qián, wǒ zǒng huì jiǎnchá ménchuāng shìfǒu dōu guān hǎo le.
  • English: Before leaving the house, I always check whether the doors and windows are all closed properly.
  • Analysis: A very practical, everyday use of 检查 for personal verification.
• Example 9: (As a Noun - Inspection Results)
  • 检查结果下周出来。
  • Pinyin: Jiǎnchá jiéguǒ xià zhōu chūlái.
  • English: The examination results will be out next week.
  • Analysis: Here, 检查 is part of the noun phrase 检查结果 (jiǎnchá jiéguǒ), meaning “examination results,” typically in a medical context.
• Example 10: (Manager Inspecting Work)
  • 经理今天下午会来检查我们的项目进度。
  • Pinyin: Jīnglǐ jīntiān xiàwǔ huì lái jiǎnchá wǒmen de xiàngmù jìndù.
  • English: The manager is coming this afternoon to inspect our project's progress.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of 检查 in a professional or business environment, implying a formal review.

• 检查 (jiǎnchá) vs. 看看 (kànkan): This is a crucial distinction. 看看 means “to take a look” and is very casual. You'd ask a friend, “你帮我看看这篇文章写得怎么样?” (Nǐ bāng wǒ kànkan zhè piān wénzhāng xiě de zěnmeyàng? - “Can you take a look at this article for me?”). Using 检查 here would sound overly formal and strange. Use 检查 for tasks that require a standard of correctness or safety.
  • Incorrect: 你帮我检查一下我的新发型。 (Sounds like you're asking for a forensic analysis of your hair.)
  • Correct: 你帮我看看我的新发型。
• 检查 (jiǎnchá) vs. 查 (chá): While related, they are not always interchangeable. 查 is often used for “looking up” information.
  • You 查字典 (chá zìdiǎn - look up in a dictionary).
  • You 查资料 (chá zīliào - look up information/data).
  • You 检查作业 (jiǎnchá zuòyè - check homework for errors). You don't “look up” homework.
• “False Friends” in English: Do not use 检查 for:
  • Checking a box: Use 打勾 (dǎ gōu).
  • Checking in (to a hotel/flight): Use 办理入住 (bànlǐ rùzhù) or 值机 (zhí jī).
  • Checking out (goods at a store): Use 结账 (jiézhàng) or 买单 (mǎidān).

• 审查 (shěnchá) - To review or censor. Much more formal and official than 检查, often used for reviewing manuscripts, applications, or internet content for approval.
• 调查 (diàochá) - To investigate or survey. This implies gathering information to understand a situation, like a police investigation or a market research survey.
• 检验 (jiǎnyàn) - To test or verify. This is more technical and scientific, often done in a laboratory to test a sample (e.g., blood test 血检 - xuèjiǎn).
• 体检 (tǐjiǎn) - A common abbreviation for 身体检查 (shēntǐ jiǎnchá), meaning a physical check-up.
• 安检 (ānjiǎn) - A common abbreviation for 安全检查 (ānquán jiǎnchá), meaning a security check.
• 复查 (fùchá) - To re-examine or do a follow-up check. Used often in medical contexts for a follow-up appointment after treatment.
• 核对 (héduì) - To cross-reference or check against a list. This is used when you have two sets of information (e.g., a name list and the people present) and you are checking that they match.
• 查看 (chákàn) - To look over or view. Often used for viewing information in a system, on a computer screen, or looking at a file. It's less about inspection and more about viewing.