diàochá: 调查 - To Investigate, To Survey, Inquiry

• Keywords: 调查, diàochá, investigate in Chinese, Chinese survey, Chinese investigation, to inquire, conduct a survey, market research China, police investigation, HSK 4 vocabulary, learn Chinese
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 调查 (diàochá), meaning to investigate or survey. This comprehensive guide breaks down how to use 调查 for everything from a formal police investigation to conducting market research or a simple opinion survey. Discover its cultural context, practical examples, and common mistakes to master this key HSK 4 vocabulary word and sound more like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): diàochá
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To look into a matter to find out the facts; an investigation, inquiry, or survey.
• In a Nutshell: 调查 (diàochá) is the go-to word for any systematic process of gathering information. Think of police detectives solving a crime, a company conducting market research, or a journalist looking into a story. It implies a structured, purposeful inquiry, not just a casual glance. It's a versatile word that can be used as the action of “investigating” (verb) or as the “investigation” itself (noun).

• 调 (diào): This character can mean “to transfer,” “to shift,” or “to dispatch.” In this context, it evokes the idea of dispatching people or resources to look into a matter.
• 查 (chá): This character means “to check,” “to examine,” or “to look into.” It's the core action of seeking information.
• When combined, 调查 (diàochá) literally means “to dispatch and check” or “to shift focus and examine.” This paints a clear picture of a formal, organized effort to uncover facts.

In Chinese society, which often values structure, process, and official channels, 调查 (diàochá) is a word that carries significant weight. It is most commonly associated with formal inquiries by official bodies like the government (`政府 zhèngfǔ`), the police (`警察 jǐngchá`), or large corporations. A 调查 implies seriousness and the pursuit of objective truth. A key difference for Western learners is that 调查 (diàochá) covers a much broader range of activities than the English word “investigation.” While “investigation” often brings to mind crime scenes and detectives, 调查 also serves as the primary word for “survey.”

• Western “Investigation”: Often implies uncovering wrongdoing or solving a mystery (e.g., a criminal investigation).
• Western “Survey”: A distinct concept focused on gathering data or opinions from a group (e.g., a market survey, an opinion poll).

调查 (diàochá) encompasses both of these. A `市场调查 (shìchǎng diàochá)` is a “market survey,” and a `刑事调查 (xíngshì diàochá)` is a “criminal investigation.” Understanding this dual meaning is crucial for using the word correctly.

调查 (diàochá) is a common and important word used across various formal and semi-formal contexts.

• As a Verb (to investigate/survey):
  • Formal: The police are investigating the case. (`警察正在调查这个案子。`)
  • Business: Our company plans to survey customer needs. (`我们公司计划调查客户需求。`)
• As a Noun (an investigation/survey):
  • Formal: The investigation is still ongoing. (`调查还在进行中。`)
  • Business: According to our survey, most users prefer this design. (`根据我们的调查，大部分用户更喜欢这个设计。`)

Its connotation is generally neutral and objective. It's about the process of finding facts, not passing judgment. While it's a formal word, you might hear it in a slightly more casual office setting, for example, a manager asking an employee to “look into” a client complaint (`你去调查一下`).

• Example 1:
  • 警察正在调查这起交通事故的原因。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá zhèngzài diàochá zhè qǐ jiāotōng shìgù de yuányīn.
  • English: The police are investigating the cause of this traffic accident.
  • Analysis: A classic example of 调查 used as a verb in a formal, official context (police work).
• Example 2:
  • 我们需要做一个市场调查来了解我们的竞争对手。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào zuò yí ge shìchǎng diàochá lái liǎojiě wǒmen de jìngzhēng duìshǒu.
  • English: We need to do a market survey to understand our competitors.
  • Analysis: Here, 调查 is used as a noun, specifically a “survey.” Note the verb `做 (zuò)`, meaning “to do,” which is commonly paired with `调查`.
• Example 3:
  • 调查结果显示，大多数人支持新政策。
  • Pinyin: Diàochá jiéguǒ xiǎnshì, dàduōshù rén zhīchí xīn zhèngcè.
  • English: The survey results show that the majority of people support the new policy.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 调查 as a noun, as part of the common phrase `调查结果 (diàochá jiéguǒ)`, meaning “investigation/survey results.”
• Example 4:
  • 记者正在调查这家公司的财务问题。
  • Pinyin: Jìzhě zhèngzài diàochá zhè jiā gōngsī de cáiwù wèntí.
  • English: The journalist is investigating this company's financial problems.
  • Analysis: Shows the use of 调查 in the context of investigative journalism.
• Example 5:
  • 老板让我调查一下为什么上个月的销售额下降了。
  • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn ràng wǒ diàochá yíxià wèishéme shàng ge yuè de xiāoshòu'é xiàjiàng le.
  • English: My boss asked me to look into why last month's sales figures dropped.
  • Analysis: A slightly less formal, workplace example. The `一下 (yíxià)` softens the verb, making it sound more like “look into it” rather than a full-blown formal investigation.
• Example 6:
  • 这次调查的目的是收集学生对新食堂的意见。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì diàochá de mùdì shì shōují xuéshēng duì xīn shítáng de yìjiàn.
  • English: The purpose of this survey is to collect students' opinions about the new cafeteria.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates 调查 used as a noun, referring to a specific survey event.
• Example 7:
  • 根据一项最近的调查，越来越多的人选择在家工作。
  • Pinyin: Gēnjù yí xiàng zuìjìn de diàochá, yuèláiyuè duō de rén xuǎnzé zài jiā gōngzuò.
  • English: According to a recent survey, more and more people are choosing to work from home.
  • Analysis: `一项 (yí xiàng)` is a measure word often used for surveys, reports, and projects.
• Example 8:
  • 填写这份调查问卷大概需要五分钟。
  • Pinyin: Tiánxiě zhè fèn diàochá wènjuàn dàgài xūyào wǔ fēnzhōng.
  • English: It will take about five minutes to fill out this survey questionnaire.
  • Analysis: Highlights the very common compound noun `调查问卷 (diàochá wènjuàn)`, which means “survey questionnaire.”
• Example 9:
  • 经过详细调查，我们发现问题出在供应链上。
  • Pinyin: Jīngguò xiángxì diàochá, wǒmen fāxiàn wèntí chū zài gōngyìngliàn shàng.
  • English: After a detailed investigation, we found that the problem was in the supply chain.
  • Analysis: The adverb `详细 (xiángxì)` meaning “detailed” is often used to modify 调查.
• Example 10:
  • 对此事件的官方调查已经开始。
  • Pinyin: Duì cǐ shìjiàn de guānfāng diàochá yǐjīng kāishǐ.
  • English: The official investigation into this incident has begun.
  • Analysis: `官方 (guānfāng)` means “official,” reinforcing the formal and authoritative nature of many investigations.

• `调查 (diàochá)` vs. `研究 (yánjiū)`
  • 调查 (diàochá) is about gathering information and facts (investigating, surveying).
  • `研究 (yánjiū)` is about analyzing that information to form a hypothesis or conclusion (researching, studying).
  • You first `调查` to collect data, and then you `研究` the data you've collected.
  • Incorrect: 我要研究一下发生了什么事。 (I want to research what happened.) - This sounds too academic.
  • Correct: 我要调查一下发生了什么事。 (I want to investigate what happened.)
• `调查 (diàochá)` vs. `检查 (jiǎnchá)`
  • 调查 (diàochá) is for looking into a situation, an event, or a matter to find unknown information.
  • `检查 (jiǎnchá)` is for inspecting a specific object, person, or system for correctness, quality, or health.
  • You `调查` a crime scene, but you `检查` the evidence. You `调查` customer satisfaction, but you `检查` a product for defects.
  • Incorrect: 医生在调查我的身体。 (The doctor is investigating my body.)
  • Correct: 医生在检查我的身体。 (The doctor is checking my body.)
• Don't use `调查` for a simple “check.”
  • For a quick, informal check, like looking up a word in a dictionary or checking the time, use the single character `查 (chá)`.
  • Incorrect: 我去调查一下词典。 (I'll go investigate the dictionary.)
  • Correct: 我去查一下词典。 (I'll go look it up in the dictionary.)

• `研究 (yánjiū)` - To research; study. The analytical step that often follows a 调查.
• `检查 (jiǎnchá)` - To check; inspect. More focused on physical objects, health, or quality control than the situational focus of 调查.
• `查 (chá)` - To check; look up. The more informal, core action within 调查. Used for quick look-ups.
• `侦查 (zhēnchá)` - To investigate (a crime). A more specific term for police or detective work. All `侦查` are a type of `调查`.
• `访问 (fǎngwèn)` - To interview; to visit formally. A common method used to gather information during a 调查.
• `打听 (dǎting)` - To ask around; to inquire informally. The casual, conversational way to find things out, unlike the formal 调查.
• `问卷 (wènjuàn)` - Questionnaire. The tool often used in a survey, as in `调查问卷`.
• `报告 (bàogào)` - Report. The final product of a 调查 is often a `调查报告 (diàochá bàogào)`.