調べ|しらべshirabe[3]odaka (tail-high)

1. noun, noun (suffix)investigation; inspection; examination
   先生せんせいはわれわれの答案とうあん調しらべに忙いそがしい。↗

   The teacher is busy looking over our tests.
2. noun, noun (suffix)tune; note; melody
   どこからかハープの流麗りゅうれいな調しらべが聞きこえてきた。↗

   They could hear the elegant, flowing sound of a harp coming from somewhere.

• Synonym捜査そうさNeutralPolice criminal investigation. 「調べ」 is a general word for looking into or questioning something, and also means a tune.
• Synonym調査ちょうさNeutralA systematic, somewhat formal investigation; 「調べ」 is more colloquial and can also mean a tune.
• Synonym検分けんぶんWrittenWritten/formal prose: inspecting in person on the spot, e.g. examining a site; 「調べ」 is broader and more everyday.
• SynonymリサーチNeutralLoanword for research, e.g. market research; 「調べ」 is the more everyday word.
• Synonym検査けんさNeutralChecking or testing for problems, e.g. a medical exam; 「調べ」 is about finding out about something.
• Synonym査察ささつWrittenOfficial, administrative inspections for compliance, such as tax checks; 「調べ」 is more general.
• Synonym審査しんさNeutralScreening and judging applications, works or entrants; 「調べ」 is about finding out the facts.
• Synonym点検てんけんNeutralGoing over equipment item by item; 「調べ」 is about learning the situation.
• Synonym考査こうさNeutralSchool tests and assessments, as in 「期末考査」; 「調べ」 is about investigating.
• Synonym精査せいさWrittenWritten/formal prose for close, thorough examination; 「調べ」 is more everyday.
• Synonym吟味ぎんみNeutralCareful scrutiny and selection, as in 「材料を吟味する」; 「調べ」 is about finding things out.
• Synonym査問さもんFormalFormal: investigating a matter by questioning someone directly, as an organization or parliament does; 「調べ」 is broader and more everyday.
• Synonym追及ついきゅうNeutralPursuing responsibility or pressing someone for answers; 「調べ」 is about learning the situation.
• Synonym取り調べとりしらべNeutralPolice or prosecutors questioning suspects or witnesses, as in 「取り調べ室」; 「調べ」 is more general.
• Synonym踏査とうさWrittenWritten/formal prose: field surveys on location, in academic or geographic work; 「調べ」 is broader and more everyday.
• RelatedサーチNeutralLoanword for searching and lookups; 「調べ」 is about learning about something.
• Related捜索そうさくNeutralSearching for missing people or searching premises; 「調べ」 is about investigating.
• Related探索たんさくNeutralExploring the unknown; 「調べ」 is about finding out specific facts.
• Related検察けんさつWrittenWritten/formal prose: criminal investigation and prosecution by prosecutors; 「調べ」 is more general.
• Related検討けんとうNeutralStudying and weighing up a plan or proposal; 「調べ」 is about establishing facts.
• Related究明きゅうめいWrittenWritten/formal prose: thoroughly uncovering a truth or cause; 「調べ」 focuses on the process of looking into something.
• Related探検たんけんNeutralAdventurous expeditions into unknown territory; 「調べ」 is about finding things out.
• Related詮索せんさくNeutralPrying into people's private affairs, with a negative nuance; 「調べ」 is a neutral word for investigating.

Use 「調べ」 for looking into something or getting to the bottom of it, and for a melody, as in 「調べがつく」 and 「美しい調べ」. For a systematic investigation say 「調査」; for police questioning of suspects, 「取り調べ」; for checks and tests, 「検査」; for studying a plan, 「検討」.

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

1. 音楽おんがくの調子ちょうし。旋律せんりつ。
2. 調査ちょうさ。点検てんけん。研究けんきゅう。
3. 詮議せんぎ。吟味ぎんみ。
4. 捜索そうさく。