試験する
shiken suru
In Japanese, to check out (meaning to examine, inspect or look at closely) can be expressed in several ways. If unsure, use 試験する (shiken suru). Wiktionary also lists 検査する (kensa suru) and 調べる (shiraberu).
Meaning: to examine, inspect, look at closely (verb)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 試験する | shiken suru | |
| 検査する | kensa suru | |
| 調べる | shiraberu | [ɕiɾa̠be̞ɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 調査する | chōsa suru |
Which one should you use?
Choose your word based on the context of the inspection: * Use 試験する (shiken suru) when you are conducting a scientific test or a trial run of a new system. * Use 検査する (kensa suru) for formal inspections, such as a medical checkup or a quality control test. * Use 調べる (shiraberu) when you are looking up information or facts, such as using a dictionary or the internet. * Use 調査する (chōsa suru) when the action implies a large-scale investigation, like a market survey or a statistical study.
How do you pronounce it?
shiken suru
When do people say it?
When you are 'checking out' of a hotel or restaurant in the sense of finishing your stay and paying, the formal phrase お会計を済ませる is used, which literally means "to settle the bill".
Did you know?
- The word 調べる (shiraberu) can also mean 'to play an instrument' in certain contexts, despite its primary meaning being 'to investigate'.
- If you use 試験する (shiken suru) to 'check' a friend's theory, it sounds as though you are conducting a formal laboratory experiment on them.
- The term 試験 is used not only for scientific tests but also for school exams and driving tests, treating all as a form of 'checking out' a person's skill.
Examples in context
- ホテルをチェックアウトします。I will check out of the hotel.
- レストランのお会計を済ませましょう。Let's settle the bill at the restaurant.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “check out” translations and entries 調べる, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 調べる, CC BY-SA 4.0.
