勘探 kāntàn to explore
to explore; to survey; to prospect (for oil etc); prospecting
How to remember 勘探: 勘 to investigate + 探 to find = to explore.
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How it is used
- To survey/prospect for underground resources - 石油勘探 (shíyóu kāntàn) oil exploration; 地质勘探 geological surveying.
- Technical, resource-industry term (exploring for oil, minerals, water).
- Distinct from 探索 (tànsuǒ, explore ideas/space); 勘探 is on-the-ground resource surveying.