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Kotomora

捜

search, look for, locate

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 1,000Strokes10

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

Explore all words using 捜 →

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.