察 means “observe, sense, infer”

さつ · satsu

Also: guess, presume, surmise, judge

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

サツ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 4 · 14 strokes

The story

Picture a host at a festival (祭) held under one roof (宀), quietly watching every guest's face. 察 is noticing: 観察 is observation, 警察 the police, and 察する is sensing what someone means but will never say aloud.

Used in 警察 (keisatsu, police), 観察 (kansatsu, observation), and 察する (sassuru, to sense/guess)

More from Thinking & Knowing

• 識 know
• 覚 remember
• 忘 forget
• 慣 get used to
• 才 talent
• 実 reality
• 解 solve
• 信 trust
• 確 certain
• 能 ability
• 疑 doubt
• 術 technique

Learn 察 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.