• 検査けんさ — inspection / test
• 調査ちょうさ — investigation / survey
• 査定さてい — assessment / appraisal
• 審査しんさ — screening / review
• 巡査じゅんさ — police officer

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査 is a 会意形声 character: 木 (tree) gives meaning, and 乍 (phonetic サ) provides sound. The 木 element suggests detail (like examining branches), while the whole character came to mean examining or investigating. It often appears in formal words related to inspections, reviews, and investigations.

事故じこの 原因げんいんを 調査ちょうさする。
We will investigate the cause of the accident.

警察けいさつが 現場げんばを 捜査そうさしている。
The police are investigating the scene.