究明|きゅうめいkyuumei[0]heiban (flat)
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- noun, suru verb, transitive verbinvestigation (esp. in academic and scientific contexts); finding out the facts; bringing (a matter) to light; inquiring into
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 究明する(きゅうめいする) |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 究明します(きゅうめいします) |
| Negative (nai) | 究明しない(きゅうめいしない) |
| polite (masen) | 究明しません(きゅうめいしません) |
| classical zu / nu | 究明せず・究明せぬ(きゅうめいせず・きゅうめいせぬ) |
| Past (ta) | 究明した(きゅうめいした) |
| polite (mashita) | 究明しました(きゅうめいしました) |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 究明しなかった(きゅうめいしなかった) |
| polite (masen deshita) | 究明しませんでした(きゅうめいしませんでした) |
| Te form | 究明して(きゅうめいして) |
| Potential | 究明できる(きゅうめいできる) |
| Passive | 究明される(きゅうめいされる) |
| Causative | 究明させる(きゅうめいさせる) |
| Causative passive | 究明させられる(きゅうめいさせられる) |
| Conditional (ba) | 究明すれば(きゅうめいすれば) |
| tara | 究明したら(きゅうめいしたら) |
| Volitional | 究明しよう(きゅうめいしよう) |
| polite (mashou) | 究明しましょう(きゅうめいしましょう) |
| Imperative | 究明しろ(きゅうめいしろ) |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
- Synonym調査ちょうさNeutralThe all-purpose word for investigating the actual state of things; broad in scope. 「究明」 zeroes in on digging until the truth or cause comes to light.
- Synonym探究たんきゅうWrittenWritten/formal: probing deeply into facts and truth; the emphasis is on the quest itself. 「究明」 stresses nailing down the truth or cause through that pursuit.
- Synonym考証こうしょうWrittenWritten/formal: examining historical documents and evidence, as in 「時代考証」. 「究明」 is about establishing the truth or cause.
- Synonym追究ついきゅうNeutralDigging to the bottom of scholarship or truth, as in 「真理を追究する」. Close to 「究明」 but stresses the process of pursuit; 「究明」 the result of finding out.
- Synonym捜査そうさNeutralCriminal investigation by the police, prosecutors and similar bodies, as in 「捜査本部」. 「究明」 is not limited to criminal cases; it targets truth and cause.
- Synonym討究とうきゅうWrittenWritten/formal word for studying something in depth; in everyday speech say 「研究」. 「究明」 more pointedly stresses settling the question at hand.
- Synonym考究こうきゅうWrittenWritten/formal: thinking through and studying a subject carefully. 「究明」 centers on getting at the truth or cause.
- RelatedリサーチNeutralLoanword for research or investigation, covering market research, academic work and more. 「究明」 is about getting to the truth or cause.
- Related研究けんきゅうNeutralSystematic academic study, as in 「研究論文」. 「究明」 stresses thoroughly clearing up a truth or cause.
- Related検討けんとうNeutralWeighing whether a plan or proposal is workable, as in 「検討中」. 「究明」 is about getting at the truth.
- Related審査しんさNeutralScreening or judging qualifications or the merits of works, as in 「書類審査」. 「究明」 aims at uncovering the truth.
- Related探索たんさくNeutralSearching out the unknown, as in 「宇宙探索」. 「究明」 focuses on clarifying the truth.
- Related取り調べとりしらべNeutralQuestioning of suspects or witnesses by investigative authorities; also investigation in general. 「究明」 focuses on uncovering the truth.
- Related調べしらべNeutralNoun for looking into or checking something, as in 「調べがつく」. 「究明」 is about getting at the truth or cause.
- Related検察けんさつNeutralThe prosecution's investigation and indictment work, as in 「検察庁」. 「究明」 is a general term for pursuing the truth.
- Related査察ささつWrittenWritten/formal: on-site inspection by authorities to check for violations, as in 「核査察」. 「究明」 is about clarifying the truth or cause.
- Related追求ついきゅうNeutralHomophone of 「追究」 and 「追及」; chasing ideals or profit, as in 「利益を追求する」. It is pursuit of a goal; 「究明」 is finding out the truth.
- Related吟味ぎんみNeutralScrutinizing carefully and weighing merits and flaws, as in 「吟味する」. 「究明」 focuses on getting at the truth.
- Related探りさぐりNeutralNoun for probing or sounding out another party's intentions. 「究明」 is about establishing the truth or cause.
- Related検分けんぶんWrittenWritten/formal: going on site to inspect and verify, as in 「実地検分」. 「究明」 centers on uncovering the truth.
- Related追及ついきゅうNeutralHomophone of 「追究」 and 「追求」; hounding someone over responsibility or cause, as in 「責任を追及する」, with a pressing nuance. 「究明」 just seeks to establish facts and cause.
- Related攻究こうきゅうWrittenWritten/formal word for investigating and studying deeply; in daily use say 「研究」. 「究明」 stresses thoroughly establishing the truth or cause.
Use 「究明」 when the point is to dig deep until a truth, cause or mechanism is clear, as in 「原因究明」 and 「真相究明」. For investigation in general pick 「調査」; for academic work 「研究」; for pressing responsibility 「追及」; for pursuing something to the very end 「追究」. The rest are narrower: 「取り調べ」 and 「捜査」 for police and prosecution probes, 「検討」 for weighing options, 「審査」 for judging entries, 「探索」 for searching the unknown, 「追求」 for chasing goals.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only


