Japanese word

観察

Pronunciation

Romajikansatsu

Meaning

  • nounobservation

Example

鳥を観察します。tori o kan satsu shi ma su

I observe birds.

Illustration for 観察 (observation)

More examples

庭で虫を観察します。niwa de mushi o kan satsu shi ma su

I observe insects in the garden.

植物の成長を毎日観察するのは楽しいです。shoku butsu no sei chō o mai nichi kan satsu su ru no wa tano shi i de su

It is fun to observe a plant's growth every day.

Core concept

Expresses the focused act of taking in details so that the nature or movement of something becomes clear.

Common phrases

  • 観察するkan satsu su ru

    observe

  • 観察の結果kan satsu no kek ka

    observation results

Similar words

注視chūshi: The act of looking at something closely and keeping attention on it.
観測kansoku: The act of recording and studying changes in nature or other measurable conditions.
監視kanshi: The act of watching a person, place, or activity to detect danger or problems.

Definition in Japanese

対象を注意深く見て、細かな様子や変化を確かめること。tai shō o chū i fuka ku mi te koma ka na yō su ya hen ka o tashi ka me ru ko to

Word origin

The compound 観察 (kansatsu) joins 観 (kan, "view") with 察 (satsu, "inspect"), linking seeing with finding out what something is like.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 観察 (kansatsu) can describe watching birds, people, or a situation carefully over time, not just looking once.

Related words

  • 観察者kansatsushaobservernoun
  • 観察力kansatsuryokuobservation skillnoun

Word lists with this word