探究|たんきゅうtankyuu[0]heiban (flat)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbresearch; investigation; enquiry; inquiry; study
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 探究する（たんきゅうする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 探究します（たんきゅうします） |
| Negative (nai) | 探究しない（たんきゅうしない） |
| polite (masen) | 探究しません（たんきゅうしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 探究せず・探究せぬ（たんきゅうせず・たんきゅうせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 探究した（たんきゅうした） |
| polite (mashita) | 探究しました（たんきゅうしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 探究しなかった（たんきゅうしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 探究しませんでした（たんきゅうしませんでした） |
| Te form | 探究して（たんきゅうして） |
| Potential | 探究できる（たんきゅうできる） |
| Passive | 探究される（たんきゅうされる） |
| Causative | 探究させる（たんきゅうさせる） |
| Causative passive | 探究させられる（たんきゅうさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 探究すれば（たんきゅうすれば） |
| tara | 探究したら（たんきゅうしたら） |
| Volitional | 探究しよう（たんきゅうしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 探究しましょう（たんきゅうしましょう） |
| Imperative | 探究しろ（たんきゅうしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym研究けんきゅうNeutralThe all-purpose word for academic research, as in 「研究者」; stresses systematic study, not the pursuit of truth at the heart of 「探究」.
- SynonymリサーチNeutralLoanword for research or investigation, as in 「市場リサーチ」; it leans toward business contexts.
- Synonym究明きゅうめいNeutralThoroughly getting to the bottom of a cause or the truth, as in 「原因究明」; it stresses pinning down specific facts.
- Synonym討究とうきゅうWrittenWritten, formal prose for deep study or investigation; rare, and in everyday speech you would say 「研究」.
- Synonym考究こうきゅうWrittenA written word for deep, careful examination and verification; it stresses meticulous thinking.
- Related調査ちょうさNeutralInvestigating actual conditions, as in 「世論調査」; it centers on gathering facts, not on probing after truth.
- Related探求たんきゅうNeutralA homophone of 「探究」 meaning to pursue something you seek, as in 「幸福の探求」; it stresses the pursuit, while 「探究」 stresses clarifying the essence.
- Related探索たんさくNeutralSearching for something unknown or for a person's whereabouts, as in 「探索機」; it stresses groping about to find, not deep inquiry.
- Related調べるしらべるNeutralA verb meaning to check or look into something; the most common colloquial choice, focused on finding out information.
- Related探すさがすNeutralA colloquial verb for looking for a thing or person; it is about finding something, not studying it.
- Related探検たんけんNeutralExploring unknown regions on the spot; it stresses physically venturing into the unknown, where 「探究」 is about thought and study.
- Related詮索せんさくNeutralPrying into other people's affairs, often with a negative nuance as in 「詮索好き」; it suggests nosiness, not serious inquiry.
Use 「探究」 for deep inquiry aimed at the essence or truth of things, as in 「真理の探究」 and 「探究心」. For academic work say 「研究」, for pursuing something 「探求」, for pinning down facts 「究明」, and for surveys 「調査」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
