Japanese with Manga
Learning through examples in manga

Helpful invention for an investigation with 捜査

Manga panel from 名探偵コナン showing example of Helpful invention for an investigation with 捜査.
名探偵コナン » Volume 1 » Page 122

Conan is now staying with Detective Mouri in hopes of finding a case related to the men responsible for his becoming a child. He stops by Professor Agasa’s place to discuss the situation.

阿笠(あがさ):
「おお、そうじゃ!!」
“Oh, that's right!!”
(きみ)捜査(そうさ)(やく)にたつと(おも)って、(つく)った(もの)を…」
“I made this thinking it might help with your investigation...”

Key Points

  1. 捜査(そうさ) = “investigation” in a detective/crime-solving sense

    • Here 捜査(そうさ) means the work of investigating a case.

    • The kanji adds the sense of searching, so 捜査(そうさ) is more like case investigation than a general inspection or examination.

  2. (やく)にたつ = “to be useful for”

    • (きみ)捜査(そうさ)(やく)にたつ means “be useful for your investigation.”

    • The first links (きみ) to 捜査(そうさ) (“your investigation”), and the second links that whole phrase to (やく)にたつ.

  3. と思って = reason behind the action

    • ~と(おも)って、(つく)った means “I made it thinking that…” or “because I thought…”

    • It explains Agasa’s motivation for making the item before he reveals what it is.