検 means “examine, inspect”

けん · ken

Also: examination, investigate

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): しらべる
On'yomi (Chinese reading): ケン

JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 5 · 12 strokes

The story

Wood (木) beside the right side of 険 and 剣, "all together": the oldest dictionary says 検 was the sealed label on a bundle of documents. Checking came with it: 検査 is inspection, 検索 a search, and 漢検 is the kanji test many Japanese sit.

Used in 検査 (kensa, inspection), 検索 (kensaku, search), and 検定 (kentei, certification exam)

検 means “examine, inspect”

The story

More from Learning & Reason