jiǎnchá: 检查 - To Check, To Inspect, Examination

• Keywords: 检查, jiancha, what does jiancha mean, Chinese check, Chinese inspection, Chinese medical exam, HSK 3 jiancha, 身体检查, security check China, check homework Chinese, examine Chinese
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 检查 (jiǎnchá), meaning 'to check,' 'to inspect,' or 'examination.' From a medical check-up (身体检查) to a security check at the airport, this HSK 3 verb/noun is crucial for daily life in China. This comprehensive guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and provides practical examples for beginners to master its use in any context.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiǎnchá
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To examine something systematically to verify its condition or a person's health.
• In a Nutshell: 检查 (jiǎnchá) is your go-to word for any kind of formal or systematic check. Think of a doctor giving you a check-up, a teacher checking homework, or a security guard inspecting your bag. It implies a process of looking carefully for a specific purpose—be it for mistakes, safety compliance, or health issues. It's more formal and thorough than just “looking” at something.

• 检 (jiǎn): This character means “to check” or “to examine.” The left side is the wood radical (木, mù), and the right side (佥, qiān) provides the sound. Historically, this combination could suggest a comprehensive look at something, like checking all the parts of a wooden structure for integrity.
• 查 (chá): This character also means “to check” or “to investigate.” It too contains the wood radical (木, mù) at the bottom. The original meaning is related to investigating or looking up information, perhaps from old records kept on wooden or bamboo slips.
• When combined, 检查 (jiǎnchá) becomes a reinforced term, like “examine-investigate.” This pairing creates a strong, unambiguous word for a thorough and purposeful inspection.

In Chinese culture, which often emphasizes order, safety, and accountability, the concept of 检查 (jiǎnchá) is deeply embedded in daily life. Compared to Western cultures, the frequency and visibility of checks in China can be surprising. For instance, the 安全检查 (ānquán jiǎnchá), or security check, is a standard procedure not just at airports but also for entering subways, train stations, and even some public museums and squares. This isn't just about security; it reflects a societal value placed on collective safety and prevention. While a Westerner might view this as an inconvenience or an invasion of privacy, in China it's largely accepted as a normal and necessary part of ensuring public order. Similarly, mandatory health 检查 (jiǎnchá), often called 体检 (tǐjiǎn), are common for university enrollment and many jobs. This stems from a pragmatic approach to public health management. In the workplace or school, a manager or teacher 检查 (jiǎnchá) work is a sign of diligence and responsibility, ensuring standards are met. It's a key part of a system that values accountability and collective progress.

检查 (jiǎnchá) is a versatile word used in many modern contexts, shifting from a verb (“to check”) to a noun (“an inspection/examination”).

• Medical Context: This is one of the most common uses. It can refer to a specific test or a full check-up.
  • As a verb: 医生要检查我的心脏。(Yīshēng yào jiǎnchá wǒ de xīnzàng.) - The doctor needs to check my heart.
  • As a noun: 我每年都做一次身体检查。(Wǒ měi nián dōu zuò yí cì shēntǐ jiǎnchá.) - I do a physical examination once every year.
• Security and Official Context: You will encounter this constantly when traveling or entering official buildings in China.
  • Example: 请把您的包放在这里，我们要检查一下。(Qǐng bǎ nín de bāo fàng zài zhèlǐ, wǒmen yào jiǎnchá yíxià.) - Please put your bag here, we need to do a check.
• Academic and Work Context: This refers to reviewing work for correctness and quality.
  • Example: 老师正在检查我们的作业。(Lǎoshī zhèngzài jiǎnchá wǒmen de zuòyè.) - The teacher is checking our homework.
• General Daily Life: Used for checking almost anything to ensure it's in a proper state.
  • Example: 出门前，检查一下水电煤气。(Chūmén qián, jiǎnchá yíxià shuǐ diàn méiqì.) - Before leaving the house, check the water, electricity, and gas.

• Example 1:
  • 医生给我做了一个全面的检查。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng gěi wǒ zuò le yí ge quánmiàn de jiǎnchá.
  • English: The doctor gave me a comprehensive examination.
  • Analysis: Here, 检查 is used as a noun meaning “examination.” The adjective 全面 (quánmiàn - comprehensive) describes the noun. This is a very common phrase in a medical setting.
• Example 2:
  • 进地铁站需要检查行李。
  • Pinyin: Jìn dìtiězhàn xūyào jiǎnchá xíngli.
  • English: You need to have your luggage inspected when entering the subway station.
  • Analysis: 检查 is a verb here, “to inspect.” This sentence describes a routine, mandatory action familiar to anyone who has used public transport in China.
• Example 3:
  • 老师正在检查我们的作业。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī zhèngzài jiǎnchá wǒmen de zuòyè.
  • English: The teacher is currently checking our homework.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the academic use of 检查. The particle 正在 (zhèngzài) indicates the action is in progress. It implies checking for mistakes, not just looking at it.
• Example 4:
  • 出门前，请检查门窗是否关好。
  • Pinyin: Chūmén qián, qǐng jiǎnchá ménchuāng shìfǒu guān hǎo.
  • English: Before you go out, please check if the doors and windows are closed properly.
  • Analysis: A great example of everyday usage. The structure “检查 + [Object] + 是否 + [Condition]” (check if [Object] is [Condition]) is very useful for beginners.
• Example 5:
  • 这次检查发现了一些问题。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì jiǎnchá fāxiàn le yìxiē wèntí.
  • English: This inspection revealed some problems.
  • Analysis: 检查 is a noun, “inspection.” It acts as the subject of the sentence. The phrase “发现问题 (fāxiàn wèntí)” means “to find problems” and often follows an inspection.
• Example 6:
  • 我需要把车送去检查一下。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xūyào bǎ chē sòng qù jiǎnchá yíxià.
  • English: I need to take my car in for a check-up.
  • Analysis: The “把 (bǎ)” construction is used to bring the object (车, chē) before the verb (检查). “一下 (yíxià)” softens the tone, making it sound like a quick or routine check.
• Example 7:
  • 你能帮我检查一下代码吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ jiǎnchá yíxià dàimǎ ma?
  • English: Can you help me check the code?
  • Analysis: This shows its use in a modern, technical context. Asking someone to 检查代码 (jiǎnchá dàimǎ) means asking them to perform a code review, looking for bugs or errors.
• Example 8:
  • 我要写一份自我检查。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yào xiě yí fèn zìwǒ jiǎnchá.
  • English: I need to write a self-criticism report.
  • Analysis: This is a very specific, formal usage. A 自我检查 (zìwǒ jiǎnchá) is a formal document of self-reflection or self-criticism, often required in institutional or organizational settings after a mistake has been made.
• Example 9:
  • 过海关时，他们检查了我的护照。
  • Pinyin: Guò hǎiguān shí, tāmen jiǎnchá le wǒ de hùzhào.
  • English: When going through customs, they checked my passport.
  • Analysis: 检查 is the perfect verb for official document checks. It implies more than a glance; it's a verification process.
• Example 10:
  • 工厂每天都会检查产品质量。
  • Pinyin: Gōngchǎng měi tiān dōu huì jiǎnchá chǎnpǐn zhìliàng.
  • English: The factory inspects product quality every day.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates its use in quality control. 检查质量 (jiǎnchá zhìliàng) is a standard phrase in manufacturing and business.

• 检查 (jiǎnchá) vs. 看 (kàn): This is a common point of confusion. 看 (kàn) just means “to look,” “to see,” or “to watch.” It's casual. You 看电视 (kàn diànshì - watch TV) and 看书 (kàn shū - read a book). 检查 (jiǎnchá) means to inspect with a purpose, to find errors, or to verify a condition.
  • Correct: 老师，请您检查一下我的作文。(Teacher, please check my essay for errors.)
  • Informal but OK: 老师，请您看一下我的作文。(Teacher, please take a look at my essay.)
  • Incorrect: 我要检查那个电影。(I want to inspect that movie.) You should say 我要看那个电影。
• 检查 (jiǎnchá) vs. 调查 (diàochá): These are both translated as “check” or “investigate” but are not interchangeable.
  • 检查 (jiǎnchá) is for inspecting the physical state or correctness of an object, person, or document. (e.g., checking a car engine, checking a passport).
  • 调查 (diàochá) is for investigating a situation, an incident, or a market to gather information and find out the truth. (e.g., police investigate a case, a company investigates market demand).
  • Incorrect Usage: 警察在检查这个案件。(The police are inspecting this case.) You should say 警察在调查这个案件 (diàochá).

• 调查 (diàochá) - To investigate. More focused on uncovering facts about an event or situation, whereas `检查` focuses on verifying the condition of a thing.
• 体检 (tǐjiǎn) - A physical examination/check-up. A very common, specific term for `身体检查`. It's a compound of `身体` (body) and `检查` (check).
• 审查 (shěnchá) - To review, to examine, to censor. More formal and authoritative than `检查`. It implies checking something against a set of official rules, laws, or policies.
• 核对 (héduì) - To check (against a list), to verify. Specifically used for comparing two or more pieces of information to ensure they match, like checking a name against a list or numbers in a report.
• 看 (kàn) - To look, to see, to watch. The most general and informal verb for using your eyes. It lacks the “systematic” or “purposeful” connotation of `检查`.
• 复习 (fùxí) - To review (study material). This is strictly for academic contexts, like reviewing your notes before a test. You `复习` lessons, but you `检查` your answers.
• 安全检查 (ānquán jiǎnchá) - Security check. A fixed phrase you will see and hear everywhere in China. Often abbreviated to 安检 (ānjiǎn).
• 质量 (zhìliàng) - Quality. The attribute that is often being verified during a product 检查.