侦查

偵查

zhēnchá

verb #8,107

Meanings

1 to investigate (a crime)
2 to conduct a criminal investigation
3 detection; criminal inquiry

Characters

to investigate; to detect; to spy

to check; to examine; to investigate

Detect + investigate — specifically used for criminal investigations by law enforcement.

Examples

警方正在侦查这起案件。

Jǐngfāng zhèngzài zhēnchá zhè qǐ ànjiàn.

The police are investigating this case.

侦查工作已经取得了进展。

Zhēnchá gōngzuò yǐjīng qǔdé le jìnzhǎn.

The investigation work has made progress.

经过侦查，终于找到了嫌疑人。

Jīngguò zhēnchá, zhōngyú zhǎodào le xiányírén.

After the investigation, the suspect was finally found.

Tips

mistakes

Don't confuse 侦查 (zhēnchá, criminal investigation by police) with 侦察 (zhēnchá, military reconnaissance/scouting). Same pronunciation, different second character and context.

Stroke Order

侦 zhēn

查 chá