侦

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to scout; to spy; to detect

Sound it out + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

亻 meaning “person” + 贞 sound ( zhēn )

Components 亻贞

detect · Heisig RSH #2061

人 person + 贞 chaste

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
美国国家侦察局	Měi guó Guó jiā Zhēn chá jú	National Reconnaissance Office (of the United States)
侦毒器	zhēn dú qì	detection unit
侦毒管	zhēn dú guǎn	detector tube
国侦局	Guó zhēn jú	abbr. for 美國國家偵察局\|美国国家侦察局
立案侦查	lì àn zhēn chá	to file for investigation; to prosecute (a case)
特侦组	tè zhēn zǔ	special investigation team (Tw)
侦察性	zhēn chá xìng	investigatory
侦察机	zhēn chá jī	surveillance aircraft; spy plane
侦测器	zhēn cè qì	detector
侦察员	zhēn chá yuán	detective; investigator; scout; spy
侦察兵	zhēn chá bīng	a scout; spy
经侦	jīng zhēn	economic crime investigation
侦破	zhēn pò	to investigate (as detective); to solve (crime); to uncover (a plot); to sniff out; to bre…
辐射侦察	fú shè zhēn chá	radiation detection
侦查	zhēn chá	to detect; to investigate
侦听	zhēn tīng	to eavesdrop; to tap (telephone conversations); to intercept and investigate
侦办	zhēn bàn	to investigate (a crime) and prosecute
侦察	zhēn chá	to investigate a crime; to scout; to reconnoiter; reconnaissance; detection; a scout
侦测	zhēn cè	to detect; to sense
侦探	zhēn tàn	detective; to do detective work

Characters sharing the sound component 贞 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
贞 sound part	zhēn	virtuous, chaste, pure; loyal
帧	zhēn	picture, scroll; one of a pair
祯	zhēn	lucky, auspicious; a good omen
桢	zhēn	hardwood; posts, supports
浈	zhēn	a river in Guangdong province