Meaning

Primary

To Look For

Alternative

To Search For

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

Because the hiragana ends with an sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means look for and the verb version of the kanji is to look for.

Curious about the difference between 捜す and 探す? While there is some overlap between the two, 捜す is typically used in official, thorough searches for something or someone that is thought to concretely exist and has disappeared or cannot be easily found. In contrast, 探す can also be used for personal searches for things that one desires or is looking for.

Reading

さがす
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

You are looking for a sagger (さが) amongst the products you're shipping off overseas. The saggers are the boxes that have weird lumps sagging out of them, which means they broke and are getting things wet. So, find the saggers. Go to search for them, because they could ruin the whole shipment.

Context

Context Sentences

三本足の犬がバーにやって来てこう言った。「俺の足を撃った男を探しているんだ。半分河豚で半分豆腐みたいな男なんだが。」

A three legged dog walked into a bar and said, "I’m searching for the man who shot my paw. He looks like half fugu and half tofu."

Kanji Composition