寻访 (xún fǎng) — to seek out, to search for (by visiting or inquiring)

Definition

寻访 means to seek out and visit someone or something in order to find, investigate, or interview them — more deliberate and journalistic than just 找 or 访问 alone, which lack the 'searching' nuance.

verb
to seek outto search for (by visiting or inquiring)

Examples

  • 寻访。
    Tā dào chù xún fǎng lǎo péng you.
    He went everywhere seeking out old friends.
  • 寻访。
    Jì zhě zhuān chéng xún fǎng nà wèi yǐn jū de zuò jiā.
    The reporter made a special trip to seek out that reclusive writer.
  • ，寻访。
    Wèi le xiě zhè běn shū, tā xún fǎng le xǔ duō lì shǐ yí jì.
    To write this book, he visited many historical sites to search for information.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

寻xúnseek
访fǎngvisit/inquire

'寻' and '访' both describe looking for someone by seeking and visiting/inquiring.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

寻 is formed from 又 (hand) and 寸 (hand).

Open 寻 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 訪; 访 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yántalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng訪fǎng
Same sound today

The traditional form 訪 pairs 言 (talk) with 方 to give the sound; the simplified 访 is a shorthand, so its right side is not the historical part.

Open 访 →

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