Word
観察
Meaning in Englishobservation, survey, careful study
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Sentence
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Word context
What it means
観察 means the act of watching phenomena or behavior carefully to gather information; it is a noun that denotes the process or result of observing, and it can be used with 観察する to form the verb.
Main meanings
- the deliberate act of watching and examining something to learn about it
- a systematic process used in science, fieldwork, or research to collect data through sight and awareness
- the ability to notice relevant details, often stated as 観察力
- in specialized contexts, 観察 can refer to the results or notes of an observation, such as observational studies
How to use it
Used in formal contexts such as scientific reporting, psychology, ethnography, and education; in everyday language it appears in structured contexts and in phrases like 観察する, 観察力. It denotes a deliberate and systematic form of looking rather than a casual glance.
Variants and close terms
- 観測 kansoku; nuance: measurement-based observation, used in science
- 監視 kanshi; nuance: surveillance or monitoring
- 注視 chūshi; nuance: fixed, attentive gaze
- 観察力 kansatsuryoku; ability to observe
Composition
- 観: to see, perceive, notice
- 察: to inspect, notice, consider
Etymology
観 means to view or perceive and 察 means to inspect or notice; the compound conveys the sense of attentive viewing, with kansatsu as the standard reading
Word class
Noun (suru-verb)
Word
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