捜
search, look for, locate
Readings
On'yomi
- ソウ
- シュ
- シュウ
Kun'yomi
- さが.す
Meaning
捜 centers on actively seeking something out: searching, looking for, or trying to locate a person or object.
Most common words using 捜
20 of 50- 捜査そうさN2
search (esp. in criminal investigations); investigation; inquiry; enquiry
- 捜索そうさくN1
search (esp. for someone or something missing); manhunt
- 特捜とくそう
special investigation
- 科捜研かそうけん
forensic researcher; crime scene investigator
- 捜査官そうさかん
(police) investigator
- 捜索隊そうさくたい
search party
- 聞き込み捜査ききこみそうさ
(police) legwork; house-to-house inquiry; canvassing; investigation carried out by questioning neighbours, bystanders, etc.
- おとり捜査おとりそうさ
sting operation; undercover investigation
- おとり捜査官おとりそうさかん
undercover investigator
- アメリカ連邦捜査局アメリカれんぽうそうさきょく
Federal Bureau of Investigation (USA); FBI
- 任意捜査にんいそうさ
search conducted with the consent of the party concerned
- 公開捜査こうかいそうさ
open criminal investigation
- 共同捜査きょうどうそうさ
joint investigation
- 刑事捜査けいじそうさ
criminal investigation
- 初動捜査しょどうそうさ
initial investigation (by police)
- 博捜はくそう
searching far and wide
- 地取り捜査じどりそうさ
police investigation carried out in the immediate vicinity of a crime site
- 家宅捜査かたくそうさ
house search (e.g. by the police)
- 家宅捜索かたくそうさく
house search (e.g. by the police)
- 家宅捜索令状かたくそうさくれいじょう
search warrant
Study
Etymology
捜 is the modern simplified form of 搜. The older form combines 扌 (hand) with 叟, which likely contributed the sound and the idea of searching or seeking with the hand. The modern right side is a simplification of 叟.
Meaning mnemonic
The hand radical 扌 on the left suggests using your hand to search. The right side looks like a hand (又) reaching into a messy pile (the upper strokes), as if rummaging around to locate something.
Reading mnemonic
For ソウ, imagine searching through a pile of old clothes and finding a single sock: sock -> ソウ, and your hand locates it.