Keywords: hedui, 核对, check in Chinese, verify in Chinese, collate data Chinese, Chinese word for checking information, 核对 vs 检查, hedui meaning, HSK 4 vocabulary
Summary: Learn the Chinese verb 核对 (héduì), which means to check, verify, or collate. This term is essential for work and daily life, used when you need to carefully compare two sets of information for accuracy, like checking a bill against your order or verifying data in a report. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural nuances, and provides practical examples to help you use it correctly and avoid common mistakes.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): héduì
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 4
Concise Definition: To check or verify information by carefully comparing it with a source.
In a Nutshell: Think of 核对 (héduì) as “to cross-check” or “to fact-check.” It's not a casual glance. It’s a deliberate action of taking one piece of information (like a name on a list) and comparing it against another (like a name on an ID card) to ensure they match perfectly. It implies precision, care, and the goal of finding any discrepancies.
Character Breakdown
核 (hé): The original meaning is a “nut” or “kernel.” From this, it extends to mean the “core,” “nucleus,” or the essential part of something. In this context, it implies a deep, core-level examination.
对 (duì): This character means “correct,” “right,” or “to face.” It carries the strong sense of matching, pairing, or aligning two things opposite each other.
The characters combine powerfully: 核 (examine the core) + 对 (to match) = to perform a core examination to ensure two things match. This creates the precise meaning of verifying data by comparison.
Cultural Context and Significance
The Importance of Precision: In Chinese professional and bureaucratic culture, precision and avoiding errors are highly valued. Mistakes can lead to a loss of face (面子) for oneself and one's group. The common use of 核对 (héduì) reflects this cultural emphasis on diligence and meticulousness. It's a standard procedure, not an optional step.
Comparison to “Double-Check”: In English, one might say, “Let me double-check those figures.” This can feel somewhat informal. The Chinese equivalent, `我们核对一下数据 (Wǒmen héduì yíxià shùjù)`, is the standard, professional way to express this. It's not just a suggestion; it's part of a responsible workflow. Using 核对 (héduì) shows that you are serious, responsible, and detail-oriented, which are highly respected traits. It’s less about individual brilliance and more about collective responsibility to ensure accuracy.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Work & Business: This is the most common context. You 核对 financial reports, invoices (发票 fāpiào), inventory lists, contracts, and customer information. It is a fundamental activity in accounting, logistics, and administration.
Daily Life: You can 核对 your restaurant bill to ensure you weren't overcharged, 核对 your name and flight number on a boarding pass, or 核对 the items in your grocery delivery against the receipt.
Academia: Students and researchers 核对 experimental data, citations, survey results, and manuscript proofs before publication.
Formality: The term is neutral to formal. It's perfectly normal in everyday conversation (e.g., between friends checking a bill) but is also the precise and expected term in a formal business report.
English: Before departure, please carefully check your passport and flight ticket information.
Analysis: This is a very common instruction from airlines or travel agencies. 核对 is used because you are expected to compare the details on two documents (or against your memory) to ensure they match.
Example 2:
会计正在核对上个月的账目。
Pinyin: Kuàijì zhèngzài héduì shàng ge yuè de zhàngmù.
English: The accountant is checking last month's accounts.
Analysis: This is a classic use case. Accounting requires comparing invoices, receipts, and bank statements. 核对 perfectly describes this process of collation and verification.
Example 3:
我们需要核对一下参会人员的名单。
Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào héduì yíxià cānhuì rényuán de míngdān.
English: We need to check the list of conference attendees.
Analysis: Here, you are checking the list against a registration source or simply confirming attendance one by one. The word implies a systematic check, not just a quick look.
English: Can you help me check if there are any problems with my translation?
Analysis: Here, the “source” for comparison is the original text. The speaker is asking someone to compare their translation (the product) against the original source text for accuracy.
Example 8:
系统会自动核对您输入的密码。
Pinyin: Xìtǒng huì zìdòng héduì nín shūrù de mìmǎ.
English: The system will automatically verify the password you entered.
Analysis: This demonstrates how 核对 is used in a technical context. The system compares the password you typed with the stored, correct password.
English: After the data entry is complete, you must carry out a verification check.
Analysis: In this sentence, 核对 is used as a noun (“verification check”). This is common in formal written instructions. `进行核对 (jìnxíng héduì)` means “to carry out a check”.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
The Biggest Mistake: Confusing `核对 (héduì)` and `检查 (jiǎnchá)`
核对 (héduì): Requires comparison against a source. It's about accuracy and matching.
Correct:核对名单 (check a list of names, by comparing it to something else)
Correct:核对账单 (check a bill, by comparing it to what you ordered)
检查 (jiǎnchá): A general inspection for problems, quality, or safety. It does not require a source to compare against.
Correct:检查身体 (to have a body check-up)
Correct:检查作业 (to check homework for general errors)
Incorrect: `我核对一下煤气关了没有。` (I'll verify if the gas is off.) –> This is wrong because there's nothing to compare it against.
Correct: `我检查一下煤气关了没有。` (I'll check if the gas is off.)
Not for “Checking In” or “Checking on Someone”
To “check in” at a hotel is `办理入住 (bànlǐ rùzhù)`.
To “check on” a sick friend is `看望 (kànwàng)` or `看看 (kànkan)`. Using 核对 in these contexts is a common and jarring mistake for learners.
Related Terms and Concepts
检查 (jiǎnchá) - The most closely related term. A general “check” or “inspection,” whereas 核对 is a specific “check by comparison.”
确认 (quèrèn) - To confirm or affirm. This often happens *after* you 核对. You 核对 the details, and if they are correct, you 确认 them.
验证 (yànzhèng) - To verify or validate. More formal and often used in technical or scientific contexts, like verifying a theory or a user's identity online.
校对 (jiàoduì) - To proofread. This is a very specific type of 核对 that applies only to text, looking for typos and grammatical errors by comparing a draft to a standard.
审查 (shěnchá) - To examine or to censor. This is a much more formal and authoritative review, often done by a person or committee in power (e.g., a government agency reviewing a film).
复查 (fùchá) - To re-examine or double-check. A second round of `检查`.
数据 (shùjù) - Data. The information that is most commonly the object of the verb 核对.
信息 (xìnxī) - Information. Another common object for the verb 核对.