Translation guide
The English word 'scrutinizing' means examining something very carefully and in detail. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various verbs and phrases that convey close inspection, critical observation, or thorough checking. The most common and versatile equivalent is よく調べる (yoku shiraberu), but more specific terms exist for formal, technical, or intense scrutiny.
To look into something thoroughly, often to find information or verify details.
A natural, everyday way to say 'scrutinize' or 'examine carefully'. It combines 'well' (よく) with 'investigate/check' (調べる).
その問題をよく調べてください。
Please scrutinize that issue.
He scrutinized the documents.
A formal term meaning 'to scrutinize' or 'to examine closely'. Often used in business or official contexts.
委員会は提案を精査した。
The committee scrutinized the proposal.
Implies careful examination, often with a critical eye, like scrutinizing the quality or suitability of something.
材料をよく吟味してから料理を始める。
I scrutinize the ingredients before starting to cook.
Means 'to inspect' or 'to check' meticulously, often used for mechanical or systematic checks.
整備士がエンジンを点検した。
The mechanic scrutinized the engine.
To look at something or someone very intently, often with suspicion or curiosity.
To stare or scrutinize visually, often with a nuance of rudeness or excessive curiosity. Commonly used in casual speech.
彼は私の顔をじろじろ見た。
He scrutinized my face.
To gaze fixedly or scrutinize with one's eyes. More formal and intense than じろじろ見る.
彼女は絵を凝視した。
She scrutinized the painting.
To scrutinize visually with great care; a literary or formal term.
彼は古文書を熟視した。
He scrutinized the ancient document.
To examine something meticulously to find mistakes, defects, or inconsistencies.
A common, slightly casual phrase meaning 'to check in detail'. 細かく means 'finely' or 'in detail'.
契約書を細かくチェックした。
I scrutinized the contract.
To verify or scrutinize through examination, often used in technical or investigative contexts.
データを検証する必要がある。
We need to scrutinize the data.
To inspect or scrutinize officially, such as by an inspector or auditor.
税務署が帳簿を査察した。
The tax office scrutinized the books.
調べる (shiraberu) is the general word for 'investigate' or 'look up'. Adding よく (yoku) makes it 'scrutinize'. 精査する (seisa suru) is formal and implies a systematic, detailed examination, often of documents or proposals. 吟味する (ginmi suru) suggests evaluating quality or suitability with a critical eye, like scrutinizing ingredients or evidence.
彼は事件をよく調べた。
He scrutinized the case (general).
監査役が財務諸表を精査した。
The auditor scrutinized the financial statements (formal).
シェフが食材を吟味する。
The chef scrutinizes the ingredients (quality check).
There is no single Japanese verb that covers all nuances of 'scrutinizing'. Using a direct dictionary form like 精査する in casual conversation may sound overly stiff. In everyday speech, use よく調べる or 細かくチェックする. For visual scrutiny, じろじろ見る is common but can imply rudeness, so use with care.