---
title: "Zhentan Meaning: 侦探 (zhēntàn) Means “detective”"
description: "侦探 (traditional 偵探, zhēntàn) means “detective”. Hear its tones, see what 侦 and 探 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/zhentan"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 侦探 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

侦探 zhēntàn

## detective

## It can also mean

- to investigate; to spy

## Its characters

1. 侦 zhēn to detect
2. 探 tàn detective

## In a sentence

他从小就想当一名侦探。 He has wanted to be a detective since he was little.

本子上写着：小**侦探**妞妞。

From [谁吃了爸爸的饺子？ · Who ate Dad’s dumplings?](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/who-ate-dads-dumplings#library-word-25-27)

[More about 侦探](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%BE%A6%E6%8E%A2)

## More words with 侦 or 探

- [探测 tàncè](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/tance)
- [探究 tànjiū](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/tanjiu)
- [探索 tànsuǒ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/tansuo)
- [探讨 tàntǎo](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/tantao)
- [侦查 zhēnchá](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/zhencha)

## Keep 侦探 for Review

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