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寻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
寻
xún
to search
HSK 7, zg, 6 strokes, radical 彐, rank #3820, Very Hard
寻
xún
to look for
HSK 7, zg, 6 strokes, radical 彐, rank #3820, Very Hard
寻
xún
to seek
HSK 7, zg, 6 strokes, radical 彐, rank #3820, Very Hard
寻
xún
to seek; to search for, to look for; ancient
HSK 7, zg, 6 strokes, radical 彐, rank #3820, Very Hard
xún(xun2)xun T2
1to search
2to look for
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March 24, 2026
寻(尋)xún(xun2)
The character 寻 (xún) means 'to search' or 'to look for.' It is commonly used in contexts involving seeking out something, whether it's information, a person, or a physical object. This character can also imply a deeper quest or pursuit, such as searching for one's purpose or place in life.
Strokes6Radical彐Frequency#3820DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese literature and poetry, the concept of seeking (寻) often symbolizes a journey of self-discovery or the pursuit of knowledge, reflecting the value placed on wisdom and personal growth in Chinese culture.
Memory tip
Imagine a detective (寻) using a magnifying glass to search for clues. The character has the radical 寸 (cùn), meaning 'inch,' suggesting the idea of searching closely or inching forward in a quest. Visualize the detective inching closer to the truth with each search.
Meanings of 寻
xún(xun2)
1to search
2to look for
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 寻 means.
About 寻
寻Simplified
尋Traditional
6Strokes
彐Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#3820Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 寻
Podcast: 寻
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AI study notes for 寻
Quick Contrast
寻找 (xúnzhǎo) vs 寻找 (xúnzhǎo) — use 寻 when emphasizing the act of searching itself, while 寻找 is more common in everyday language.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 寻 with similar-sounding words like 询 (xún), which means 'to inquire.' 寻 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, often appearing in phrases like 寻找 (xúnzhǎo, 'to seek') and 寻求 (xúnqiú, 'to seek out'). Pay attention to the tone, as mispronunciation can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Although 寻 is not included in the official HSK levels, it connects with HSK 3 vocabulary like 找 (zhǎo, 'to find') and 询 (xún, 'to inquire'). Learners should focus on collocations and how to use 寻 in sentences to improve fluency.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 寻 with similar characters and mistakenly use it in contexts that require a different verb. For example, saying '我寻一个地方' (Wǒ xún yīgè dìfāng) should be corrected to '我找一个地方' (Wǒ zhǎo yīgè dìfāng) for 'I am looking for a place.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 寻
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Knowing 寻 is seven skills, not one.
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寻 = 彐 + 寸. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 寻
IDS Structure⿱彐寸
寻Full character
=
彐ji4
top
寸cun4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 寻?
How to say to search in Chinese
“to search” in Chinese is寻xún
The character 寻 (xún) means 'to search' or 'to look for.' It is commonly used in contexts involving seeking out something, whether it's information, a person, or a physical object. This character can also imply a deeper quest or pursuit, such as searching for one's purpose or place in life.
When to use 寻
Be cautious not to confuse 寻 with similar-sounding words like 询 (xún), which means 'to inquire.' 寻 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, often appearing in phrases like 寻找 (xúnzhǎo, 'to seek') and 寻求 (xúnqiú, 'to seek out'). Pay attention to the tone, as mispronunciation can change the meaning.
寻 or something close to it
寻找 (xúnzhǎo) vs 寻找 (xúnzhǎo) — use 寻 when emphasizing the act of searching itself, while 寻找 is more common in everyday language.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 寻 with similar characters and mistakenly use it in contexts that require a different verb. For example, saying '我寻一个地方' (Wǒ xún yīgè dìfāng) should be corrected to '我找一个地方' (Wǒ zhǎo yīgè dìfāng) for 'I am looking for a place.'
Write 寻
寻
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Practice writing 寻 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 寻
寻 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
你应该为了自己____求专业人士的帮助。
You owe it to yourself to get some professional help.
Common confusions with 寻
寻vs循
xún
Same pronunciation but different meanings.
寻vs醒
xǐng
Similar pronunciation but different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to search”?
or
Example sentences for 寻 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
你应该为了自己寻求专业人士的帮助。
nǐ yīnggāi wèile zìjǐ xúnqiú zhuānyè rénshì de bāngzhù。
You owe it to yourself to get some professional help.
They fanned out and carefully combed the temple grounds.
8
那种方法不奏效的时候，他们有时会想到要寻求帮助。
nà zhǒng fāngfǎ bù zòuxiào de shíhou， tāmen yǒushí huì xiǎngdào yào xúnqiú bāngzhù。
When that doesn't work they sometimes have the sense to seek help.
9
在几个小时漫无目的的搜寻之后，他们快没燃料了。
zài jǐ gè xiǎoshí màn wú mùdì de sōuxún zhīhòu， tāmen kuài méi ránliào le。
After several hours of aimless searching they were getting low on fuel.
10
皮兰德娄把他的戏剧命名为《六个寻找作者的剧中人》。
pí lán dé lóu bǎ tā de xìjù mìngmíng wèi《 liù gè xúnzhǎo zuòzhě de jù zhōng rén》。
Pirandello titled his play "Six Characters in Search of an Author"
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Word Family of 寻
Compounds6
鲟xúnsturgeon
荨xúnnettle
彟yuēto measure; to calculate
挦xián
浔xúnsteep river bank
桪xún
Words containing this character20
寻找xúnzhǎoto seek尋找
寻xúnto search尋
寻求xúnqiúto seek尋求
寻常xúnchángusual尋常
搜寻sōuxúnto search搜尋
找寻zhǎoxúnto look for找尋
追寻zhuīxúnto pursue追尋
寻觅xúnmìto look for尋覓
探寻tànxúnto search探尋
寻思xúnsīto consider尋思
耐人寻味nàirénxúnwèithought-provoking耐人尋味
寻死xúnsǐto attempt suicide尋死
寻访xúnfǎngto inquire after尋訪
寻欢作乐xúnhuānzuòlèpleasure seeking (idiom); life of dissipation尋歡作樂
寻开心xúnkāixīnto make fun of尋開心
寻宝xúnbǎotreasure hunt尋寶
异乎寻常yìhūxúnchángunusual異乎尋常
寻衅xúnxìnto pick a quarrel尋釁
自寻烦恼zìxúnfánnǎoto bring trouble on oneself (idiom)自尋煩惱
寻呼机xúnhūjīpager尋呼機
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 寻
What does 鲟 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 寻
Yes, 寻 (xún) can be used in idiomatic expressions such as '寻死觅活' (xún sǐ mì huó), which means to live in despair or seek death. This expression conveys a sense of hopelessness and highlights how the character can be used in more complex phrases beyond just searching.
Some synonyms for 寻 (xún) include 找 (zhǎo), which means 'to find', and 探 (tàn), which means 'to explore or probe'. While all these words relate to searching, each has its nuances depending on the context in which they're used.
寻 (xún) means 'to search', 'to look for', or 'to seek' in Chinese. It is often used in contexts where someone is trying to find something, whether it's a physical object or an abstract concept. The character is commonly found in phrases related to searching or seeking out information.
You can use 寻 (xún) in sentences like '我在寻我的书' (Wǒ zài xún wǒ de shū), which means 'I am looking for my book'. It can also be used in more complex phrases, such as '寻求帮助' (xúnqiú bāngzhù), meaning 'to seek help'. Understanding the context is key when using this character.
No, 寻 can also be used for searching for abstract concepts, such as love, truth, or purpose.
Common phrases include 寻找 (xúnzhǎo, 'to search for') and 寻求 (xúnqiú, 'to seek out').
Ensure you use the second tone, which rises slightly, as in xún.
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