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搜寻 (sōu xún) — to search for, to look for

Definition

搜寻 is a fairly formal verb meaning 'to search for, to look for' — broader and more literary than 搜索 (concrete search of a place or database). Closer to 寻找/寻求 in tone, but emphasizes an active, thorough hunt.

verb
to search forto look for

Examples

  • 搜寻。
    Jǐng fāng zài sōu xún shī zōng de yóu kè.
    The police are searching for the missing tourists.
  • 搜寻。
    Tā zài wǎng shàng sōu xún nà ge wèn tí de dá àn.
    He is searching online for the answer to that question.
  • 搜寻。
    Kē xué jiā men sōu xún xīn de zhì liáo fāng fǎ.
    Scientists are searching for new treatment methods.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

搜sōusearch
寻xúnlook for

'搜' and '寻' both mean looking for, so together they emphasize a careful search.

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
叟
叟sǒu搜sōu
Same sound today

The left 扌 is a hand. The right 叟 gives the sound and originally pictured a hand holding a torch indoors, related to searching.

Open 搜 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-95000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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