Translation guide
The act of looking for something or someone, often with a specific purpose. In Japanese, the most common way to express this is with the verb 探す (sagasu), but other words and patterns are used depending on what is being searched and the context.
To express the act of trying to find a lost item, a specific object, or a person.
The most common and general verb for 'to search for' or 'to look for'. Used for concrete things and people.
Often used specifically for searching for a missing person or criminal, implying a more thorough or official search. Same reading as 探す but different nuance.
警察が行方不明者を捜している。
The police are searching for the missing person.
To search around, to look everywhere. Emphasizes the act of moving around while searching.
家中を探し回った。
I searched all over the house.
To express looking up information, researching, or browsing for data.
To look up, investigate, or check. Used for searching for information in a dictionary, on the internet, or through research.
インターネットで調べてみて。
Try searching on the internet.
辞書で単語を調べる。
I look up words in a dictionary.
To search (a database, the web). More technical and formal than 調べる. Often used for online searches.
キーワードで検索してください。
Please search by keyword.
Can also be used for searching for information, but 調べる is more natural when the focus is on looking up facts.
To express trying to recall something or searching one's thoughts.
To trace one's memory, to try to remember. Literally 'to follow one's memory'.
記憶をたどって、彼の名前を思い出そうとした。
I searched my memory, trying to recall his name.
To search one's mind, to probe one's thoughts. More introspective.
頭の中を探っても、答えは見つからなかった。
Even searching my mind, I couldn't find the answer.
To express a systematic or thorough search of a location.
To conduct a search (especially by authorities). Formal and often used for missing persons or evidence.
警察が山を捜索した。
The police searched the mountain.
To probe, to search for something hidden or unknown. Can be physical (searching with hands) or metaphorical.
暗闇の中を手で探った。
I searched in the dark with my hands.
To rummage, to fish around. Often used for searching through a pile of things or scavenging.
探す (sagasu) is used when looking for a physical object or person, or when the location of the information is unknown. 調べる (shiraberu) is used when you are looking up specific information, often with a known source like a dictionary or the internet. For online searches, 検索する (kensaku suru) is more technical.
The English loanword サーチ (sāchi) is not commonly used as a verb in natural Japanese. Use 検索する or 調べる instead.
I search for information online.
I rummaged through the drawer searching for the document.