Translation guide
The English verb 'hunt' covers several distinct actions: searching for something, pursuing and killing animals, and chasing someone down. Japanese uses different verbs and expressions depending on the intent and context.
To look for something, often with effort or thoroughness.
hunt for a job · hunt for clues · hunt for a bargain
To chase and kill wild animals for food, sport, or population control.
The standard verb for hunting animals. Often used in the context of hunting for food or sport.
To pursue someone relentlessly, often to catch or harm them.
General verb for 'to chase' or 'to pursue'. Can be used for chasing a person, an animal, or even a dream.
Both are read さがす. 探す is the general 'look for', while 捜す is more specific to searching for something lost or missing, often with a sense of investigation. In everyday writing, 探す is more common.
仕事を探す (general job hunting) vs 犯人を捜す (searching for a criminal)
探す for general searching, 捜す for searching for a specific missing target.
狩る (かる) is only for hunting animals. Using it for 'job hunting' or 'house hunting' would be incorrect and sound strange. Use 探す instead.
The most common and general verb for 'to look for' or 'to search for' something. Can be used for objects, people, information, etc.
鍵を探している。
I'm hunting for my keys.
新しいアパートを探しています。
I'm hunting for a new apartment.
Often used specifically for searching for missing people or things, with a nuance of 'looking for something lost'. The kanji 捜 implies a more investigative search.
警察は行方不明の子供を捜している。
The police are hunting for the missing child.
Means 'to hunt around' or 'to search all over'. Emphasizes moving from place to place in search of something.
あちこち探し回ったけど、見つからなかった。
I hunted all over but couldn't find it.
Means 'to rummage', 'to fish for', or 'to hunt for' something, often in a disorderly way. Used for searching through piles, online, etc.
ネットで情報を漁る。
To hunt for information online.
彼は週末に鹿を狩りに行く。
He goes hunting for deer on weekends.
A more formal or technical term for hunting, often used in legal or official contexts.
この地域では狩猟が禁止されている。
Hunting is prohibited in this area.
A common phrase meaning 'to do hunting' or 'to go hunting'. More conversational than 狩猟する.
子供の頃、よく父と狩りをした。
When I was a child, I often went hunting with my father.
警察が犯人を追っている。
The police are hunting the criminal.
Means 'to track' or 'to pursue' in a more systematic or determined way. Often used for manhunts or investigations.
彼らは逃亡者を追跡している。
They are hunting the fugitive.
Means 'to corner' or 'to hunt down'. Implies driving someone into a position where they cannot escape.
警察は犯人を追い詰めた。
The police hunted down the criminal.