to search for, to look for, to find; change (as in money)
HSK 1, v, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #94, Easy
zhǎo(zhao3) T3
1to try to find
2to look for
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March 24, 2026
找zhǎo(zhao3)
The verb 找 (zhǎo) means 'to seek or look for' something or someone. It is commonly used in contexts such as searching for items, calling on someone, or asking for change in a transaction. The nuance of this word implies a sense of effort or intention in the search.
Strokes7Radical扌Frequency#94DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, it is common to use 找 in everyday transactions, especially when asking for change. For instance, when purchasing street food, it's often a routine to ask the vendor to '找钱' (zhǎo qián - 'give change').
Memory Tip
Visualize a person with a magnifying glass, actively searching for a lost item. The character 找 has the 'hand' radical (扌) on the left, symbolizing the action of searching with hands, and the 'tooth' component (乍) on the right, suggesting the eagerness of finding something important.
Meanings of 找
zhǎo(zhao3)
1to try to find
2to look for
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 找
找Simplified
7Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#94Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 找
Podcast: 找
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AI Study Notes for 找
Quick Contrast
寻 (xún) - use 找 (zhǎo) when emphasizing the effort in seeking, while 寻 (xún) is more neutral and can imply a less intense search.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 找 with other similar verbs like 寻 (xún), which also means 'to seek' but is more formal. In casual conversations, 找 can be used to mean asking someone to come over, as in '找我' (zhǎo wǒ - 'call on me'). Pay attention to the tone; the third tone can change the meaning if mispronounced.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 找 connects well with other verbs of action like 看 (kàn - to see) and 找 (zhǎo - to look for). Students should practice using it in sentences involving searching for common items and understand its usage in phrases related to money.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 找 with 见 (jiàn - to see) when trying to express 'find someone.' For instance, saying '我找见你' (wǒ zhǎo jiàn nǐ) instead of '我找你' (wǒ zhǎo nǐ) is incorrect; the correct expression is simply '我找你.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 找
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Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 戈 represents the sound.
1The giveawayTo go searching with a spear 戈 in hand 扌
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 找? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 找?
Decomposition of 找
IDS Structure⿰扌戈
找Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
戈Ge1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 找?
How to say to try to find in Chinese
“to try to find” in Chinese is找zhǎo
The verb 找 (zhǎo) means 'to seek or look for' something or someone. It is commonly used in contexts such as searching for items, calling on someone, or asking for change in a transaction. The nuance of this word implies a sense of effort or intention in the search.
When to use 找
Be cautious not to confuse 找 with other similar verbs like 寻 (xún), which also means 'to seek' but is more formal. In casual conversations, 找 can be used to mean asking someone to come over, as in '找我' (zhǎo wǒ - 'call on me'). Pay attention to the tone; the third tone can change the meaning if mispronounced.
找 or something close to it
寻 (xún) - use 找 (zhǎo) when emphasizing the effort in seeking, while 寻 (xún) is more neutral and can imply a less intense search.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 找 with 见 (jiàn - to see) when trying to express 'find someone.' For instance, saying '我找见你' (wǒ zhǎo jiàn nǐ) instead of '我找你' (wǒ zhǎo nǐ) is incorrect; the correct expression is simply '我找你.'
Write 找
找
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Practice writing 找 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 找
找 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
