To investigate openly and secretly; to conduct both overt and covert inquiries.
从明里细心察看，从暗里询问了解。指用各种方法进行调查研究。
清·吴趼人《痛史》第十一回我住在此处，徒占一席，于事无济，倒不如仍然到外面去，明察暗访。”
The detective used mingcha'anfang to uncover the truth behind the scandal.
Learn the next connected idiom: 明察暗访 (míng chá àn fǎng) → 访贫问苦 (fǎng pín wèn kǔ)
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