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寻找 (xún zhǎo) — to seek, to look for

Definition

A general 'to look for / to seek' verb that works for both concrete things (a lost wallet) and abstract goals (truth, answers). More everyday than the written 寻求, which leans toward abstract pursuits.

verb
to seekto look for

Examples

  • 寻找。
    Tā zhèng zài xún zhǎo diū shī de qián bāo.
    He is looking for his lost wallet.
  • 寻找。
    Jǐng chá zài xún zhǎo zhè ge àn jiàn de zhēn xiàng.
    The police are seeking the truth of this case.
  • 寻找。
    Tā huā le hěn duō shí jiān xún zhǎo dá àn.
    He spent a lot of time looking for the answer.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

寻xúnseek
找zhǎolook for

寻 and 找 both mean to look for, so together they express seeking.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
戈
戈gē找zhǎo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

找 pairs 扌 (hand) with 戈 as a sound part. The idea that it shows a hand looking for a halberd is only a memory trick.

Open 找 →
Appears in
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