‘查证’ is a compound verb meaning 'to verify' or 'to confirm'—specifically, to check information or evidence carefully to establish its truth or accuracy. The first character, 查 (chá), means 'to investigate' or 'to look up'; the second, 证 (zhèng), means 'evidence' or 'proof'. Together, they convey the active process of seeking and examining supporting facts—like cross-referencing documents, testing claims, or consulting authoritative sources. It implies diligence and objectivity.

This word is commonly used in formal, professional, or academic contexts: journalism (verifying sources), healthcare (confirming diagnoses), law (checking alibis), and scientific research (validating data). It often appears with objects like '事实' (facts), '信息' (information), or '说法' (claims), and frequently follows verbs like '需要' (need to) or '必须' (must). Unlike casual synonyms like '确认', 查证 suggests a more rigorous, evidence-based process.