调查 (diàochá)

调查 means to investigate or survey something through systematic inquiry, observation, or research. It is used for everything from police investigations to market research surveys, from academic field studies to journalistic fact-finding.

Meanings

[verb] To investigate; to survey; to look into; to research.
[noun] Investigation; survey; inquiry.

Example Sentences

警察正在调查这起交通事故的原因。 Jǐngchá zhèngzài diàochá zhè qǐ jiāotōng shìgù de yuányīn. The police are investigating the cause of this traffic accident.

公司委托市场研究机构对消费者行为进行了调查。 Gōngsī wèituō shìchǎng yánjiū jīgòu duì xiāofèizhě xíngwéi jìnxíng le diàochá. The company commissioned a market research firm to conduct a survey on consumer behavior.

调查结果显示，大多数人支持这项政策。 Diàochá jiéguǒ xiǎnshì, dàduōshù rén zhīchí zhè xiàng zhèngcè. The survey results showed that the majority of people support this policy.

记者深入农村，调查当地的教育状况。 Jìzhě shēnrù nóngcūn, diàochá dāngdì de jiàoyù zhuàngkuàng. The journalist went deep into the countryside to investigate the local education situation.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
进行调查	conduct an investigation
调查结果	survey / investigation results
问卷调查	questionnaire survey
深入调查	investigate in depth
调查报告	investigation report

Usage Notes

调查 is broader than 检查 (jiǎnchá), which means "to inspect/check" and focuses on examining existing things for problems. 调查 suggests active fact-gathering in order to understand a new or unknown situation. In journalism and law enforcement, 展开调查 (to launch an investigation) and 调查取证 (to investigate and gather evidence) are common professional phrases.

Memory Hook

调 means "to tune/adjust/inquire" and 查 means "to check/examine." Together they describe the process of tuning in carefully and checking everything systematically — exactly what an investigator does.