檢 meaning and stroke order
To check, to examine, to inspect
How to write 檢, stroke by stroke
17 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
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- 17
Meaning of 檢
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to check
- to examine
- to inspect
- to exercise restraint
How 檢 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Wood.
木 gives the meaning and 僉 hints at the sound.
Radical: 木 (tree), shared by 388 characters on this site.
How to remember 檢
檢 is built from 木 (wood) on the left and 僉 (qiān) on the right, which gives the sound. Picture an inspector tapping every wooden plank to check it for cracks.
檢 (jiǎn) rarely stands alone and usually appears in words about checking or testing, like 檢查 (jiǎnchá) and 檢測 (jiǎncè). In mainland China it is written in the simplified form 检. Example: 我明天去醫院體檢。(Wǒ míngtiān qù yīyuàn tǐjiǎn.) I am going to the hospital for a checkup tomorrow.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 檢 with 撿 (jiǎn, to pick up) and 險 (xiǎn, danger), which share the 僉 part. Remember that the wood radical 木 means check, the hand radical 扌 means pick up, and 阝 goes with danger.
Common words with 檢
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 檢查 | jiǎnchá | inspection; to examine | HSK 2 |
| 檢測 | jiǎncè | to test; to detect | HSK 4 |
| 體檢 | tǐjiǎn | abbr. for 體格檢查|体格检查[ti3 ge2 jian3 cha2] | HSK 4 |
| 檢驗 | jiǎnyàn | to inspect; to examine | HSK 5 |
| 安檢 | ānjiǎn | security check (abbr. for 安全檢查|安全检查[an1 quan2 jian3 cha2]); to do a security check | HSK 6 |
| 檢討 | jiǎntǎo | to examine or inspect; self-criticism | HSK 7-9 |
| 檢察 | jiǎnchá | to inspect; (law) to prosecute | HSK 7-9 |
| 檢察官 | jiǎncháguān | public prosecutor; public procurator (judicial officer whose job may involve both criminal | |
| 屍檢 | shījiǎn | autopsy | |
| 檢方 | jiǎnfāng | the prosecution; prosecutors | |
| 檢查站 | jiǎncházhàn | checkpoint | |
| 檢舉 | jiǎnjǔ | to report (an offense to the authorities); to inform against sb | |
| 檢查員 | jiǎncháyuán | inspector | |
| 檢察院 | jiǎncháyuàn | prosecutor's office; procuratorate |
Questions about 檢
How many strokes are in 檢?
檢 is written with 17 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 檢 mean?
檢 (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 檢?
檢 is pronounced jiǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 檢?
The radical of 檢 is 木, which carries the idea of "tree". Dictionaries list 檢 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 檢?
檢 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 检, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 檢查 and 檢察?
Both are pronounced jiǎnchá. 檢查 is the everyday word for checking or inspecting anything. 檢察 is a legal term about prosecution, as in 檢察官 (jiǎncháguān, prosecutor).
Does 檢討 just mean to review something?
It can mean to examine or review, but it often means self-criticism, like admitting a mistake. A 檢討書 (jiǎntǎoshū) is a written apology or self-criticism, often required in schools or workplaces.