查 (chá) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 查 (chá) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 查 (chá) means "to check or investigate". It is an HSK Level 2 character, with 9 strokes and the radical 木.

Q: How do you write 查 stroke by stroke?

查 has 9 strokes. The radical is 木. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 查 and 杆?

查 (chá) and 杆 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 查?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 木. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 查?

Common words containing 查 include: 检查 (jiǎn chá) — to check, inspect, or examine; 查词典 (chá cí diǎn) — to look up in a dictionary; 调查 (diào chá) — To investigate; to survey.

How to Write 查

The character 查 (chá) is written with 9 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 木 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

查 is pronounced chá in Mandarin Chinese. It means to check or investigate.

This is a polyphonic character with readings: chá, zhā.

As an HSK Level 2 character, 查 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 查

检查 jiǎn chá

to check, inspect, or examine

查词典 chá cí diǎn

to look up in a dictionary

调查 diào chá

To investigate; to survey

姓查 xìng zhā

Surname Zha (pronounced Zhā).

Example Sentences

老师在检查作业。

lǎo shī zài jiǎn chá zuò yè

The teacher is checking homework.

如果你不认识这个生字，请翻开词典查词典。

rú guǒ nǐ bù rèn shí zhè ge shēng zì ， qǐng fān kāi cí diǎn chá cí diǎn 。

If you don't know this new character, please open the dictionary and look it up.

公司在做市场调查。

gōng sī zài zuò shì chǎng diào chá

The company is conducting market research.

这个人姓查。

zhè gè rén xìng zhā.

This person's surname is Zha.

Similar Characters

杆 gān

杈 chā

杉 shān

Practice Writing 查 (chá)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 查 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 查

What does 查 (chá) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 查 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 查 and 杆?

What mistakes do learners make writing 查?

What common words use 查?

How to Write 查 (chá)