审 meaning and stroke order
To examine; to investigate; carefully
How to write 审, stroke by stroke
8 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 审
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to examine
- to investigate
- carefully
- to try (in court)
How 审 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Courtroom.
宀 gives the meaning and 申 hints at the sound.
Radical: 宀 (roof), shared by 67 characters on this site.
How to remember 审
Picture a roof 宀 over a courtroom, where a case is laid out under it. The 申 (shēn) underneath gives the sound, and the roof reminds you that the examining happens indoors, in a hall of judgment.
审 (shěn) is mostly used inside compound words about checking, approving, or judging, such as 审查 (shěnchá), 审核 (shěnhé), and 审批 (shěnpī). It is common in legal, official, and business language. Example: 这份报告需要领导审批。(Zhè fèn bàogào xūyào lǐngdǎo shěnpī.) This report needs to be approved by the leadership.
Common mistake: Learners often say 审 with a first tone because its sound part 申 is shēn, but 审 is third tone, shěn. Also do not confuse it with 婶 (shěn, aunt), which sounds the same but has 女 on the left.
Common words with 审
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 审查 | shěnchá | to examine; to investigate | HSK 6 |
| 审判 | shěnpàn | a trial; to try sb | HSK 7-9 |
| 审视 | shěnshì | to look closely at; to examine | HSK 7-9 |
| 审核 | shěnhé | to audit; to investigate thoroughly | HSK 7-9 |
| 评审 | píngshěn | to appraise; to evaluate | HSK 7-9 |
| 审定 | shěndìng | to examine sth and make a decision; to screen | HSK 7-9 |
| 审美 | shěnměi | esthetics; appreciating the arts | HSK 7-9 |
| 审批 | shěnpī | to examine and approve; to endorse | HSK 7-9 |
| 陪审团 | péishěntuán | jury | |
| 审讯 | shěnxùn | inquest; trial | |
| 审问 | shěnwèn | to interrogate; to examine | |
| 陪审员 | péishěnyuán | juror | |
| 庭审 | tíngshěn | court hearing | |
| 受审 | shòushěn | to stand trial; to be on trial (for a crime) |
审 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 审
Learning 审 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 审
How many strokes are in 审?
审 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 审 mean?
审 (shěn) means to examine; to investigate; carefully. A common word with it is 审查 (shěnchá), meaning "to examine; to investigate".
How do you pronounce 审?
审 is pronounced shěn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 审?
The radical of 审 is 宀, which carries the idea of "roof". Dictionaries list 审 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 审?
The traditional form of 审 is 審. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 审 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 审 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 审 is part of the HSK 6 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 审美 mean, and why does it contain 审?
审美 (shěnměi) means aesthetics or a sense of beauty. Here 审 keeps its idea of examining carefully, so the word literally suggests judging what is beautiful. You can say 他的审美很好 (tā de shěnměi hěn hǎo), meaning he has good taste.
What is the difference between 审查 and 审核?
Both mean to examine, but 审查 (shěnchá) often suggests official inspection or censorship, like checking content or investigating a person. 审核 (shěnhé) is more about verifying details for accuracy or approval, such as checking accounts, applications, or documents.