捜査|そうさsousa[1]atamadaka (head-high)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. suru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectivesearch (esp. in criminal investigations); investigation; inquiry; enquiry
    警察けいさつは事件じけんの捜査そうさをした。↗
    The police looked into that incident.
Conjugation
Dictionary form捜査する(そうさする)
Polite (masu)捜査します(そうさします)
Negative (nai)捜査しない(そうさしない)
polite (masen)捜査しません(そうさしません)
classical zu / nu捜査せず・捜査せぬ(そうさせず・そうさせぬ)
Past (ta)捜査した(そうさした)
polite (mashita)捜査しました(そうさしました)
Past negative (nakatta)捜査しなかった(そうさしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)捜査しませんでした(そうさしませんでした)
Te form捜査して(そうさして)
Potential捜査できる(そうさできる)
Passive捜査される(そうさされる)
Causative捜査させる(そうささせる)
Causative passive捜査させられる(そうささせられる)
Conditional (ba)捜査すれば(そうさすれば)
tara捜査したら(そうさしたら)
Volitional捜査しよう(そうさしよう)
polite (mashou)捜査しましょう(そうさしましょう)
Imperative捜査しろ(そうさしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym調査ちょうさNeutralThe general word for investigating something, with a very wide range; 「捜査」 is mostly reserved for criminal investigations.
  • Synonym調べしらべNeutralCovers investigations and examinations, and also means a tune or melody; 「捜査」 usually refers to investigating a crime.
  • Synonym究明きゅうめいWrittenWritten/formal prose. Getting at the truth or cause, regardless of who investigates; 「捜査」 is the work of authorities like the police and prosecutors.
  • Synonym調べるしらべるNeutralThe everyday verb for checking or looking something up; 「捜査」 is a noun and mostly refers to criminal investigation.
  • Related探索たんさくNeutralExplores the unknown or tracks down where someone is, often with a research flavor; 「捜査」 typically means hunting for evidence and suspects to solve a crime.
  • Related査察ささつWrittenWritten/formal prose. An inspection to check compliance, e.g. tax inspections; 「捜査」 is a criminal investigation.
  • Related審査しんさNeutralScreening or judging — examining applications, entries and the like to decide eligibility or merit; 「捜査」 is a criminal investigation.
  • Related追及ついきゅうNeutralPursuing causes or responsibility, pressing someone with questions; 「捜査」 is the investigation of a crime itself.
  • Related探究たんきゅうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Deep academic study and inquiry into facts or truth; 「捜査」 is the authorities' search for culprits and evidence to crack a case.
  • Related査問さもんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Investigating a matter and questioning those involved, as in 「査問委員会」; 「捜査」 hunts for culprits and evidence to solve a case.
  • Related詮索せんさくNeutralPrying into other people's affairs, with a negative nuance; 「捜査」 is a formal, official search and investigation.

Use 「捜査」 for searching and investigating to establish facts, especially criminal investigations by the authorities, as in 「捜査本部」. For general investigations say 「調査」, for getting at the truth 「究明」, for tax and compliance checks 「査察」, and for prying into private matters 「詮索」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 捜さがし調しらべること。
  2. 捜査そうさ機関きかんが公訴こうそのために犯人はんにんを発見はっけん・確保かくほし証拠しょうこを収集しゅうしゅうする活動かつどう。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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