investigate incognito; secret inquiry
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to investigate incognito; to make secret inquiries (of officials)
formalTypically refers to government officials concealing their identity and status to learn about true conditions among the populace. Most commonly appears in the set phrase '微服私访' (traveling in plain clothes to investigate).
Kāng康
xī熙
huáng皇
dì帝
jīng经
cháng常
wēi微
fú服
sī私
fǎng访
，
tǐ体
chá察
mín民
qíng情
。
Emperor Kangxi often traveled in disguise to understand the lives of the common people.
Zhè这
wèi位
xún巡
fǔ抚
sī私
fǎng访
mín民
jiān间
，
chá查
chū出
le了
xǔ许
duō多
yuān冤
àn案
。
This provincial governor made secret visits among the people and uncovered many unjust cases.
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Gǔ古
dài代
guān官
yuán员
wēi微
fú服
sī私
fǎng访
de的
gù故
shi事
zài在
mín民
jiān间
guǎng广
wéi为
liú流
chuán传
。
Stories of ancient officials traveling incognito to investigate are widely circulated among the people.