調査|ちょうさchousa[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbinvestigation; examination; inquiry; enquiry; survey
   その調査ちょうさは進行中しんこうちゅうです。↗

   The investigation is under way.

• SynonymリサーチNeutralLoanword for research or investigation, often in market or business contexts such as 「市場リサーチ」. Lighter in feel; 「調査」 is more formal and general.
• Synonym捜査そうさNeutralCriminal investigation by police or prosecutors to gather evidence, as in 「警察が捜査する」. Limited to criminal cases.
• Synonym調べしらべNeutralInvestigation or questioning, as in 「警察の調べ」 and 「調べがつく」. Also means a tune or melody, a sense 「調査」 never has.
• Synonym究明きゅうめいWrittenWritten word for thoroughly uncovering a truth or cause, as in 「原因究明」. Stresses getting to the bottom, often after accidents or incidents.
• Synonym取り調べるとりしらべるNeutralVerb for police interrogation of suspects, also detailed investigation. Today mostly heard in the interrogation sense.
• Synonym調べるしらべるNeutralThe most common verb for looking up or checking, as in 「辞書で調べる」. 「調査」 is a formal Sino-Japanese noun.
• Synonym取り調べとりしらべNeutralQuestioning of suspects or witnesses, or detailed examination of evidence, as in 「取り調べを受ける」.
• Synonym検分けんぶんWrittenWritten word for visiting a site to inspect and confirm, as in 「現場を検分する」. Seen after accidents and at construction sites.
• RelatedサーチNeutralLoanword for searching or looking things up, mostly online, as in 「サーチエンジン」. For systematically finding out facts, use 「調査」.
• Related点検てんけんNeutralChecking items one by one for faults, as in 「車の点検」 or 「安全点検」. Mostly for equipment, focused on confirming things are in order.
• Related吟味ぎんみNeutralCareful scrutiny and weighing of quality, as in 「材料を吟味する」; formerly also examining guilt. 「調査」 centers on gathering facts.
• Related捜索そうさくNeutralSearching for missing people or things, or a legally authorized search such as 「家宅捜索」. About finding, not finding out facts.
• Related探索たんさくWrittenWritten-style word for exploring unknown things or places, as in 「宇宙探索」. Centers on seeking the unknown, while 「調査」 centers on establishing facts.
• Related査問さもんFormalFormal inquiry that investigates and questions someone directly, conducted by organizations, investigators, or parliaments. Harsher than 「調査」.
• Related研究けんきゅうNeutralAcademic, in-depth study, as in 「研究論文」. Aims to uncover principles, while 「調査」 aims to collect facts.
• Related査察ささつFormalFormal word for compliance inspection, as in 「税務査察」. Carries a supervisory tone that 「調査」 lacks.
• Related審査しんさNeutralScreening to judge acceptability, quality, or rank, as in 「書類審査」 or 「入国審査」. Ends in a verdict; 「調査」 only establishes facts.
• Related探求たんきゅうWrittenPursuing truth or answers, as in 「真理を探求する」. Abstract and literary; not used for concrete fact-finding.
• Related考査こうさWrittenWritten word for assessing ability or testing students, as in 「期末考査」; also content review such as 「放送考査」. About evaluation, not fact-finding.
• Related探るさぐるNeutralVerb for probing or secretly sounding out, as in 「相手の本音を探る」. Often carries a secretive, testing-the-waters nuance.
• RelatedチェックNeutralLoanword for checking or verifying, as in 「チェックする」. Very common in speech, simpler and more casual than 「調査」.
• Related検討けんとうNeutralExamining something from many angles and weighing pros and cons, as in 「計画を検討する」. About deciding, not gathering facts.
• Related検査けんさNeutralChecking against a standard for abnormalities, as in 「品質検査」 or 「血液検査」. Narrower in scope than 「調査」.
• Related考証こうしょうWrittenWritten word for verifying past events through documents and sources, as in 「時代考証」. Confined to historical or classical study.
• Related追及ついきゅうNeutralPursuing causes or responsibility, as in 「責任を追及する」. About pressing and assigning blame, not objective fact-finding.
• RelatedインスペクションWrittenLoanword for inspection or viewing, seen in professional settings like construction and equipment acceptance. In daily speech say 「検査」 or 「点検」.
• Related査閲さえつWrittenWritten word for on-site inspection or review, formerly often of military drills; rarely used today.

For finding out the actual state of something, 「調査」 is the default; in everyday speech use the verb 「調べる」. For criminal cases use 「捜査」 or 「取り調べ」; for checks against a standard 「検査」, for equipment 「点検」; for academic study 「研究」; for judging acceptability 「審査」. Loanwords 「リサーチ」 and 「サーチ」 suit market and web contexts, and 「チェック」 is casual. Written or formal options include 「究明」, 「探索」, 「探求」, 「考査」, 「考証」, 「検分」, 「査問」, 「査察」, and 「査閲」.

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

1. 物事ものごとの実態じったいなどを明あきらかにするために調しらべること。サーベイ。