检 meaning and stroke order
To check, to examine, to inspect
How to write 检, 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 检
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to check
- to examine
- to inspect
- to exercise restraint
How 检 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Wood.
木 gives the meaning and 佥 hints at the sound.
Radical: 木 (tree), shared by 388 characters on this site.
How to remember 检
检 is wood 木 on the left plus 佥 (qiān) on the right, which gives the sound. Picture an inspector tapping each wooden board 木 to check it before signing off.
检 rarely stands alone and usually appears in two-character words like 检查 (jiǎnchá, to check), 体检 (tǐjiǎn, physical exam) and 安检 (ānjiǎn, security check). Example: 医生要检查你的眼睛。(Yīshēng yào jiǎnchá nǐ de yǎnjing.) The doctor needs to examine your eyes.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 检 with 险 (xiǎn, danger) and 验 (yàn, to test), which share the same 佥 part. Remember that 检 has 木, 险 has the 阝 side, and 验 has 马.
Common words with 检
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 检查 | jiǎnchá | inspection; to examine | HSK 2 |
| 检测 | jiǎncè | to test; to detect | HSK 4 |
| 体检 | tǐjiǎn | abbr. for 體格檢查|体格检查[ti3 ge2 jian3 cha2] | HSK 4 |
| 检验 | jiǎnyàn | to inspect; to examine | HSK 5 |
| 安检 | ānjiǎn | security check (abbr. for 安全檢查|安全检查[an1 quan2 jian3 cha2]); to do a security check | HSK 6 |
| 检讨 | jiǎntǎo | to examine or inspect; self-criticism | HSK 7-9 |
| 检察 | jiǎnchá | to inspect; (law) to prosecute | HSK 7-9 |
| 检察官 | jiǎncháguān | public prosecutor; public procurator (judicial officer whose job may involve both criminal | |
| 尸检 | shījiǎn | autopsy | |
| 检方 | jiǎnfāng | the prosecution; prosecutors | |
| 检查站 | jiǎncházhàn | checkpoint | |
| 检举 | jiǎnjǔ | to report (an offense to the authorities); to inform against sb | |
| 检查员 | jiǎncháyuán | inspector | |
| 检察院 | jiǎncháyuàn | prosecutor's office; procuratorate |
检 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 检
How many strokes are in 检?
检 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 检 mean?
检 (jiǎn) means to check, to examine, to inspect. A common word with it is 检查 (jiǎnchá), meaning "inspection; to examine".
How do you pronounce 检?
检 is pronounced jiǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 检?
The radical of 检 is 木, which carries the idea of "tree". Dictionaries list 检 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 检?
The traditional form of 检 is 檢. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 检 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 检 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 检 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 检查 and 检察?
Both are read jiǎnchá. 检查 is the everyday word for checking or examining something, such as homework or luggage. 检察 is a legal term about prosecution, as in 检察官 (jiǎncháguān, prosecutor).
Why does 检讨 mean self-criticism?
检讨 (jiǎntǎo) means to examine your own conduct, so it is often used when someone admits a fault. Students or employees may be asked to write a 检讨书, a written self-criticism.