寻求 (xúnqiú) means 'to seek' and emphasizes a deliberate, active effort to obtain something abstract or intangible, like a solution, opportunity, or help. It is more formal and goal-oriented than 寻找 (xúnzhǎo), which is the general word for physically looking for something or someone. 求 (qiú) alone is broader, covering requests and begging, while 寻求 focuses on purposeful pursuit.