zhēn

old variant of 偵|侦[zhen1]

person (亻) + sound zhēn (贞) = spy, scout

亻marks this as a human activity; 贞 contributes the sound zhēn and does not carry the detective meaning. Together they point to a person engaged in scouting or spying.

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A personSemantic
ChastePhonetic

他加入了探小组,负责调查案件。

tā jiā rù le zhēn tàn xiǎo zǔ,fù zé diào chá àn jiàn。

he joined the detective team, responsible for investigating cases.

警察派人去察敌方的行动路线。

jǐng chá pài rén qù zhēn chá dí fāng de xíng dòng lù xiàn。

the police sent people to reconnoiter the enemy's route of movement.

Words with 侦

侦察

zhēn chá

to investigate a crime

侦察兵

zhēn chá bīng

a scout

侦察员

zhēn chá yuán

detective

侦察性

zhēn chá xìng

investigatory

侦察机

zhēn chá jī

surveillance aircraft

侦探

zhēn tàn

detective

侦查

zhēn chá

to detect

侦毒器

zhēn dú qì

detection unit

侦毒管

zhēn dú guǎn

detector tube

侦测

zhēn cè

to detect

侦测器

zhēn cè qì

detector

侦破

zhēn pò

to investigate (as detective)

More characters with 亻