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Kotomora

偵

spy

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • テイ

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

偵 centers on covert observation: a spy who secretly watches and gathers information.

Most common words using 偵

20 of 23
  • 探偵たんてい
    N1

    detective; investigator; sleuth

  • 偵察ていさつ
    N1

    scouting; reconnaissance

  • 内偵ないてい

    secret investigation; private enquiry; private inquiry; reconnaissance; scouting

  • 密偵みってい

    spy; secret agent

  • サイバー探偵サイバーたんてい

    cybersleuth

  • 偵察機ていさつき

    reconnaissance plane; spy plane

  • 偵察衛星ていさつえいせい

    reconnaissance satellite; spy satellite

  • 偵察要員ていさつよういん

    player put on starting list to be replaced by another when the opponent's pitcher is known

  • 偵察隊ていさつたい

    scouting party; patrol

  • 偵察飛行ていさつひこう

    surveillance flight

  • 偵知ていち

    spying out; discovering (by covert investigation)

  • 名探偵めいたんてい

    great detective

  • 名探偵コナンめいたんていコナン

    Detective Conan (manga series and media franchise); Case Closed

  • 威力偵察いりょくていさつ

    reconnaissance in force; combat reconnaissance

  • 安楽椅子探偵あんらくいすたんてい

    armchair detective

  • 探偵事務所たんていじむしょ

    detective bureau; detective agency; investigation firm

  • 探偵団たんていだん

    detective team

  • 探偵小説たんていしょうせつ

    detective story

  • 探偵業たんていぎょう

    detective work; detective industry

  • 探偵社たんていしゃ

    detective agency

Explore all words using 偵 →

Study

Etymology

偵 combines 亻 (person) with 貞, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of correctness or uprightness, suggesting a person who observes or investigates.

Meaning mnemonic

A person 亻 beside 貞, like a spy who stands upright and watches carefully, gathering information.

Reading mnemonic

For テイ, imagine a spy taking a tea break while secretly watching: tea -> テイ.