Meaning and Usage
「取り調べる」(とりしらべる) is a formal verb primarily used in legal or police contexts to mean "to investigate" or "to interrogate." It often refers to questioning suspects or witnesses to gather information about a crime or incident.
Common Contexts
This verb is typically used when describing police or official investigations. It is not commonly used in casual conversation but appears frequently in news reports, legal documents, and crime dramas.
Collocations and Patterns
- 取り調べを受ける: to undergo interrogation
- 取り調べを行う: to conduct an investigation
- 取り調べの結果: as a result of the investigation
These phrases highlight the procedural nature of the word, emphasizing formal questioning.
Register and Nuance
The word carries a formal and somewhat serious tone. It implies an official process rather than casual inquiry. Using it outside of legal or official contexts may sound unnatural.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 取り調べる with 調べる (しらべる), which means "to investigate" or "to check" in a broader sense. Remember that 取り調べる specifically implies formal interrogation, often by authorities.