'勘查' (kān chá) is a formal noun meaning 'field survey' or 'on-site investigation'. It combines two characters: 勘 (kān), which means 'to survey' or 'to inspect', especially in technical or official contexts, and 查 (chá), meaning 'to examine' or 'to investigate'. Together, they emphasize a thorough, professional inspection conducted directly at a location — not just reading reports or analyzing data remotely. The word carries connotations of authority, precision, and fieldwork.

This term appears frequently in engineering, geology, environmental protection, urban planning, and legal or administrative procedures. For example, government departments may dispatch teams to 'conduct a field survey' before approving construction projects. It’s rarely used in casual speech; instead, it belongs to formal written and professional spoken Chinese — think of reports, official documents, or expert briefings. Unlike everyday verbs like 'look at' or 'check', '勘查' implies systematic observation with documentation and analysis.