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找到 (zhǎo dào) — to find

Definition

找到 (zhǎo dào) is a resultative verb: 找 (to look for) + 到 (the result complement), meaning you actually located what you were searching for. Unlike 找 alone, it stresses the successful outcome.

verb
to find

Examples

  • 找到。
    Wǒ zhōng yú zhǎo dào le nà běn shī chuán de shǒu gǎo.
    I finally found that lost manuscript.
  • 找到。
    Tā huā le hěn duō shí jiān cái zhǎo dào zhèng què de dá àn.
    He spent a lot of time before finding the correct answer.
  • 找到？
    Nǐ néng bāng wǒ zhǎo dào diū shī de yào shi ma?
    Can you help me find the lost keys?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

找zhǎosearch
到dàoreach

找 (search) and 到 (reach) combine to mean the search reaches its target.

Characters in this word

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 →

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
至至zhìto arrive
Sound part声符shēngfú
刀
刀dāo到dào
Same sound today

到 combines 至, meaning 'to arrive', with 刀 as the sound part. The 至 part points to the idea of reaching a stopping point.

Open 到 →
Appears in
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