観測

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 観測 is a noun and irregular transitive verb read かんそく, meaning systematic observation or monitoring of natural phenomena and measured quantities.
• Basic usage: Mark the observed phenomenon with を, as in 星の動きを観測する, and connect repeated monitoring to recording with 観測して記録する.
  • 屋上で星の動きを観測した。 describes observing the movement of stars from a rooftop; 川の水位を毎朝観測して記録する。 says that the river level is observed and recorded every morning.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 星の動きを観測する
  • を marks the natural phenomenon or change being systematically monitored.
• 観測して記録する
  • The connective て links observation to the following act of recording the result.
• 観測 and 観察
  • 観察 broadly means closely watching an object's state or changes, while 観測 is often used for methodical monitoring and recording of phenomena or measurements.