検査

けんさ

inspection, examination

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"検査" (けんさ) refers to the act of inspecting, examining, or testing something carefully. It is commonly used in medical, technical, and security contexts.

Common Contexts

  • Medical examinations (health checkups, tests)
  • Quality control inspections in manufacturing
  • Security checks such as baggage inspection at airports

Collocations and Patterns

  • 健康診断の検査 (health checkup examination): used when talking about medical tests
  • 品質検査 (quality inspection): used in manufacturing or product contexts
  • 手荷物検査 (baggage inspection): used in security or travel contexts

Usage Notes

"検査" is a formal noun often used in official or professional settings. It is not typically used for casual or informal checks. Learners should not confuse it with "調査" (ちょうさ), which means investigation or survey, as "検査" focuses on physical or technical examination rather than gathering information.

Politeness and Register

"検査" is neutral to formal and often appears in written language, announcements, or professional speech. When speaking politely, it is common to combine it with verbs like "受ける" (to undergo) or "行う" (to conduct).

Example Sentences

びょういんでけんこうしんだんのけんさをうけました。

I underwent a health checkup examination at the hospital.

せいひんのひんしつけんさはきびしくおこなわれています。

The product quality inspection is conducted strictly.

くうこうでてにもつけんさをうけなければなりません。

You must undergo a baggage inspection at the airport.