inquiry、investigation、research与survey这些名词均有“调查”之意。
inquiry : 普通常用词，指正式调查，也指一般的打听或查询。
- I've been making inquiries about/into the cost of a round-the-world ticket.
我一直在打听环球游的票价。 - Inquiry into the matter is pointless - no one will tell you anything.
打听这件事没有用——没有人会告诉你。 - a judicial inquiry
司法调查 - Citizens have demanded a full inquiry into the government's handling of the epidemic.
公众要求全面调查政府对这场传染病的处置是否得当。
investigation : 一般指有系统的调查以得到希望发现或需要知道的事。
- An investigation has been under way for several days into the disappearance of a 13-year-old boy.
对一名13岁男孩失踪展开的调查已进行了好几天。 - a full/thorough investigation of the incident
对该事件全面的调查 - Currently, the individuals who might have caused the accident are subject to/under investigation.
目前，所有可能引发这起事故的个人都在接受调查。
research : 指科学工作者等为揭示自然规律或获取某个领域的新知识而进行长时间的调查研究。
- scientific/medical research
科学／医学研究 - a research student/assistant/laboratory
研究生／助手／实验室 - They are carrying out/conducting/doing some fascinating research into/on the language of dolphins.
他们正在对海豚的语言展开／进行／做一些很有趣的研究。 - His researches in the field of disease prevention produced unexpected results.
他在疾病预防领域的研究取得了意想不到的成果。
survey : 多指为写书面报告而进行的民意测验或调查。
- A recent survey found/revealed/showed that 58 percent of people did not know where their heart is.
最近的一项调查表明，有58%的人不知道自己的心脏在什么位置。 - to conduct/carry out/do a survey
进行调查
