查处

• Pinyin: chá chǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 查 = 木 (wood) + 旦 (dawn/phonetic); 处 = 夂 (walk slowly) + 几 (small table)

Meaning

To investigate and deal with; to investigate and penalise. Used of authorities taking action against violations.

An official/legal term meaning both to investigate and to take disciplinary or legal action as a result. Always implies both the investigative and the punitive phases. Very common in journalism about anti-corruption, regulatory enforcement, and law enforcement.

Examples

1. 纪检部门已对该官员涉嫌受贿的问题展开调查，并依规予以查处。 The discipline inspection department has launched an investigation into the official's alleged bribery and will deal with it according to regulations.
2. 市场监管局对多家违规销售假冒商品的商户进行了查处，并处以罚款。 The market regulator investigated and penalised several vendors who were illegally selling counterfeit goods, imposing fines.
3. 有关部门将对网络平台传播虚假信息的行为依法查处，绝不姑息。 Relevant authorities will investigate and punish the spread of false information by online platforms in accordance with the law, and will show no leniency.

Usage Guide

Context: law, government, regulation, anti-corruption, news

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 对于扰乱市场秩序的违规行为，监管部门将坚决查处，维护公平竞争环境。(For illegal conduct that disrupts market order, the regulatory authorities will resolutely investigate and penalise it.)
• 这批假疫苗案件已被移送司法机关，相关责任人将依法查处。(This batch of fake vaccine cases has been transferred to the judiciary, and those responsible will be dealt with according to the law.)

Don't Say

• 老师查处了作弊的学生。(查处 is used by official authorities in legal/regulatory contexts; for a teacher disciplining a student use 处理 or 批评)

Origin & History

查 (to investigate, check) + 处 (to deal with, handle, punish). To investigate and then handle/punish accordingly.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal