侦 zhēn to spy
to spy; to reconnoiter; detective
怎么记住“侦”: 亻 person + 贞 virtuous = to spy. The nosy person next door insists it is virtuous to watch the street, but the neighbours know she only wants to spy.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
侦 = 亻 person + 贞 virtuous
- 亻 person meaning
- 贞 virtuous meaning + sound
The nosy person next door insists it is virtuous to watch the street, but the neighbours know she only wants to spy.
How it came to be
The person and a part meaning to ask make the meaning, and the asking part also gives the sound.
用法
- To investigate/spy/detect: 侦探 (zhēntàn) detective, 侦查 (zhēnchá) to investigate (a crime), 侦察 (zhēnchá) to reconnoiter (military scouting).
- Note the near-homophone pair: 侦查 = criminal investigation, 侦察 = military/scouting reconnaissance, same pinyin, different 查/察 and use.
- Register is official/technical (police, military, spy fiction).