Fun with synonyms - "evaluation/investigation/etc."


Explain the differences in the following vocabulary. They all essentially mean
some form of investigation, inspection, etc. Please don't just write the
definitions; I'm lost on how they differ, when to use one over others, what
they apply to, and so on. After much study, a lot of them still seem to
overlap in my mind (and maybe they do). Here they are. Good luck!

  1. 監査【かんさ】
  2. 鑑査【かんさ】
  3. 検査【けんさ】
  4. 検討【けんとう】
  5. 審査【しんさ】
  6. 捜査【そうさ】
  7. 探査【たんさ】
  8. 調査【ちょうさ】
  9. 査察【ささつ】
  10. 視察【しさつ】
  11. 監察【かんさつ】




Here are a few I can tell without hesitation. I'd see ALC to get example
sentences for the others…

  1. 検査【けんさ】 -> The nuclear safety agency _inspected_ the people from Fukusima as well as their luggage.
  2. 検討【けんとう】 -> We _consider_ adding another wheel to our latest unicycle.
  3. 審査【しんさ】-> The pre-doctoral _examination_ will be held in December
  4. 探査【たんさ】
  5. 調査【ちょうさ】 -> There has been a _poll_ to see how many people liked nattô on toasts.
  6. 監察【かんさつ】-> We _observed_ a color change when adding marmelade to coke.




Here are a few I can tell without hesitation. I'd see ALC to get example
sentences for the others…

  1. 検査【けんさ】 -> The nuclear safety agency _inspected_ the people from Fukusima as well as their luggage.
  2. 検討【けんとう】 -> We _consider_ adding another wheel to our latest unicycle.
  3. 審査【しんさ】-> The pre-doctoral _examination_ will be held in December
  4. 探査【たんさ】
  5. 調査【ちょうさ】 -> There has been a _poll_ to see how many people liked nattô on toasts.
  6. 監察【かんさつ】-> We _observed_ a color change when adding marmelade to coke.

