Translation guide
How to express the idea of looking for something or someone in Japanese, including common verbs and natural phrasing.
The speaker is trying to find a concrete thing or person.
The most common and general verb for 'search for' or 'look for'. Used for objects, people, and information.
I'm looking for my keys.
I'm searching for a new apartment.
Often used specifically for searching for a missing person or lost item, implying a more thorough or official search. In practice, 探す is more common in daily use.
The police are searching for the missing person.
To search around, look all over for something. Emphasizes the action of moving around while searching.
I searched all over but couldn't find it.
The speaker is looking up information, data, or references.
To look up, investigate, or examine. Used for searching for information in a dictionary, on the internet, or through research.
Try searching for it on the internet.
To search (a database, the web). More technical and specific to digital searches.
Please search by keyword.
Can also be used for searching for information, but 調べる is more natural when the focus is on the act of looking up.
The speaker is seeking something intangible.
To seek, pursue, or desire. Used for abstract goals like happiness, truth, or love.
He is searching for the truth.
To quest for, pursue (knowledge, truth). More formal and intellectual.
Can be used for abstract things in casual speech, but 求める is more natural for deep desires.
To examine someone's body or belongings, or to comb through an area.
To inspect, examine. Used for searching a person's bag, a room, etc.
My luggage was searched at customs.
To conduct a body search (pat-down). Often used in security contexts.
To frisk, to search someone's body by patting down. Also means to probe or investigate.
Use 探す (sagasu) when you are trying to locate something or someone. Use 調べる (shiraberu) when you are looking up information or examining something. For example, you 探す your lost wallet, but you 調べる a word in the dictionary.
look for a wallet
look up the meaning
The English loanword サーチする is understood but sounds unnatural in most contexts. Stick to 探す or 調べる.
I'm searching for a job.
Search for the file on your computer.
I looked up the meaning of the word in the dictionary.
ネットで答えを探した。
I searched for the answer online.
He spent his life searching for truth.
幸せを探している。
I'm searching for happiness.
I underwent a body search at the airport.
The police officer frisked the suspect.