查看

• Pinyin: chá kàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 查 = 木 + 且, to check; 看 = 手 + 目, to look

Meaning

To check; to look at; to examine. To inspect or review something carefully.

A verb meaning to examine or look over something. Common in both everyday and technical contexts. Used for checking documents (查看文件), examining sites (查看现场), and reviewing information (查看资料). Also common in software interfaces.

Examples

1. 请查看一下附件，看有没有遗漏。 Please check the attachment to see if anything is missing.
2. 工程师正在现场查看设备运行情况。 The engineer is on site checking the equipment operation.
3. 你可以登录账户查看订单状态。 You can log into your account to check the order status.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, technical, business

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请查看邮件了解详情。(Please check your email for details.)
• 医生查看了伤口后说没什么大问题。(After examining the wound, the doctor said it wasn't a big problem.)

Don't Say

• 注意'查看'和'检查'的区别 (查看 is more casual 'looking over,' while 检查 implies more thorough examination)

Origin & History

Compound of 查 (to check) + 看 (to look). Combines investigating with visual examination.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal