調べる (しらべる) — Japanese Vocabulary
調べる (しらべる / shiraberu): to investigate, look up. N4 level Japanese vocabulary.
調べる — しらべる (shiraberu)
Part of speech: verb-ru JLPT level: N4 Reading: しらべる (shiraberu) Meaning: to investigate, look up, check, examine
Word Breakdown
調 (Kanji):
- Meaning: investigate, tune, tone, prepare
- On-yomi: チョウ (chō)
- Kun-yomi: しら(べる) (shiraberu), ととの(う) (totonou)
The kanji 調 combines the radical for "speech/words" (言) with the character for "surrounding/all around" (周). It carries the nuance of putting things in order or checking the details of something to ensure it is in harmony or correct.
All Readings
- On-yomi (音読み): チョウ (chō)
- Kun-yomi (訓読み): しら(べる) (shiraberu)
In this word, the kun-yomi reading is used.
Example Sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 辞書で調べる。 | じしょでしらべる。 | Jisho de shiraberu. | Look it up in the dictionary. |
| 意味を調べてください。 | いみをしらべてください。 | Imi o shirabete kudasai. | Please look up the meaning. |
| 警察が事故を調べる。 | けいさつがじこをしらべる。 | Keisatsu ga jiko o shiraberu. | The police are investigating the accident. |
| ネットで情報を調べる。 | ねっとでじょうほうをしらべる。 | Netto de jōhō o shiraberu. | Look up information on the internet. |
| 詳しく調べておきます。 | くわしくしらべておきます。 | Kuwashiku shirabete okimasu. | I will look into it in detail. |
| 飛行機の時間を調べた。 | ひこうきのじかんをしらべた。 | Hikōki no jikan o shirabeta. | I checked the flight times. |
| 犯人を調べる必要がある。 | はんにんをしらべるひつようがある。 | Hannin o shiraberu hitsuyō ga aru. | It is necessary to investigate the culprit. |
| 自分の名前を調べてみた。 | じぶんのなまえをしらべてみた。 | Jibun no namae o shirabete mita. | I tried looking up my own name. |
Conjugation Table
| Form | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Plain Present | 調べる (shiraberu) | 調べない (shirabenai) |
| Plain Past | 調べた (shirabeta) | 調べなかった (shirabenakatta) |
| Polite Present | 調べます (shirabemasu) | 調べません (shirabemasen) |
| Polite Past | 調べました (shirabemashita) | 調べませんでした (shirabemasen deshita) |
| Te-form | 調べて (shirabete) | — |
| Potential | 調べられる (shiraberareru) | 調べられない (shiraberarenai) |
| Passive | 調べられる (shiraberareru) | — |
| Causative | 調べさせる (shirabesaseru) | — |
Related Words and Compounds
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 調査 | ちょうさ | chōsa | investigation, survey |
| 調子 | ちょうし | chōshi | condition, state |
| 強調 | きょうちょう | kyōchō | emphasis |
| 調和 | ちょうわ | chōwa | harmony |
| 調理 | ちょうり | chōri | cooking |
| 調節 | ちょうせつ | chōsetsu | adjustment |
| 下調べ | したしらべ | shitashirabe | preliminary investigation |
| 調書 | ちょうしょ | chōsho | written record/report |
Common Mistakes
- ❌ 辞書を調べる (Jisho o shiraberu) → ✓ 辞書で調べる (Jisho de shiraberu) — When using a tool to perform an action, use the particle で (de), not を (o).
- ❌ 調べるする (Shiraberu suru) → ✓ 調べる (Shiraberu) — Shiraberu is a standard verb-ru; it does not take suru.
In Context — Mini Dialogue
A: この漢字、読み方がわからないな。 (Kono kanji, yomikata ga wakaranai na.) I don't know the reading for this kanji.
B: スマホで調べてみたら？ (Sumaho de shirabete mitara?) Why don't you look it up on your smartphone?
A: そうするよ。ありがとう。 (Sō suru yo. Arigatō.) I'll do that. Thanks.
Usage Notes
Shiraberu is a versatile verb used for both physical and intellectual "checking." It ranges from simple tasks like looking up a word in a dictionary or checking a train schedule, to more serious actions like police investigations or scientific research.
When you want to emphasize that you are looking into something in advance to be prepared, you can use the construction 調べておく (shirabete oku). This is a very common and natural way to express that you have done your homework or preparation before an event or meeting.
While shiraberu is the most common term, in formal or academic contexts, you might see 調査する (chōsa suru). Use shiraberu for daily life, and chōsa suru for formal reports, government inquiries, or professional research.