勘 kān to investigate
to investigate; to survey; to explore; to collate
How to remember 勘: 甚 considerably + 力 power = to investigate. The detective's new flashlight has considerably more power than his old one, so tonight he goes back to the dark warehouse to investigate.
Component breakdown
勘 = 甚 considerably + 力 power
- 甚 considerably
- 其 this or that
- 𠃊 corner
- 八 eight
- 力 power
The detective's new flashlight has considerably more power than his old one, so tonight he goes back to the dark warehouse to investigate.
How it is used
- To survey/investigate on the ground, and to collate texts - 勘探 (kāntàn) to prospect/explore (for minerals), 勘察 (kānchá) to survey a site, 勘误 (kānwù) to correct errata.
- Technical register - geology, engineering, publishing.
- The common thread is careful checking against reality or a source.