勘 meaning and stroke order
To investigate; to survey, to explore; to compare; to collate
How to write 勘, stroke by stroke
11 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 勘
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to investigate
- to survey
- to collate
How 勘 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Strength.
力 gives the meaning and 甚 hints at the sound.
Radical: 力 (strength), shared by 44 characters on this site.
How to remember 勘
勘 combines 甚 (shèn), which gives the sound, with 力 (lì, strength). Picture putting a great deal of effort into checking something thoroughly, like surveyors working hard to examine the land.
勘 is mostly used in formal or technical words about surveying land, exploring for resources, or checking texts for errors. It rarely stands alone. Example: 他们在山里勘探石油。(Tāmen zài shān lǐ kāntàn shíyóu.) They are exploring for oil in the mountains.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes read 勘 as shèn because of its phonetic part 甚, but the correct reading is kān with a first tone. Also do not confuse it with 堪 (kān, to bear, can endure), which has 土 on the left instead of 力 on the right.
Common words with 勘
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 勘探 | kāntàn | to explore; to survey | HSK 7-9 |
| 勘察 | kānchá | to reconnoiter; to explore |
Questions about 勘
How many strokes are in 勘?
勘 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 勘 mean?
勘 (kān) means to investigate; to survey, to explore; to compare; to collate. A common word with it is 勘探 (kāntàn), meaning "to explore; to survey".
How do you pronounce 勘?
勘 is pronounced kān, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 勘?
The radical of 勘 is 力, which carries the idea of "strength". Dictionaries list 勘 under this radical.
Is 勘 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 勘 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 勘探 and 勘察?
勘探 (kāntàn) usually means prospecting for underground resources like oil, gas, or minerals. 勘察 (kānchá) is broader and means surveying or inspecting a site, for example before construction or at an accident scene.
How is 勘 used for checking texts?
In the sense of collating, 勘 appears in words like 校勘 (jiàokān, to collate and correct texts) and 勘误 (kānwù, to correct errors). A 勘误表 (kānwùbiǎo) is an errata list in a book.