HSK 5, zg, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #3047, Hard
搜
sōu
to seek, to search, to investigate
HSK 5, zg, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #3047, Hard
sōu(sou1)sou T1
1to search
2to seek, to search, to investigate
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March 24, 2026
搜sōu(sou1)
The character 搜 (sōu) means 'to search' or 'to seek.' It is commonly used in contexts involving investigation or thorough searching, such as in law enforcement or research. The nuance often implies a careful and methodical approach to finding something.
Strokes12Radical扌Frequency#3047DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The concept of searching is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, especially in the context of traditional Chinese medicine, where practitioners often 'search' for the root causes of ailments rather than just treating symptoms.
Memory Tip
Imagine a detective with a magnifying glass (the radical '犭' represents a dog, often associated with searching) meticulously searching for clues on the ground. The sound 'sōu' can be linked to 'soul' — think of searching for the 'soul' of the matter.
Meanings of 搜
sōu(sou1)
1to search
2to seek, to search, to investigate
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 搜 means.
About 搜
搜Simplified
12Strokes
扌Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#3047Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 搜
Podcast: 搜
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AI Study Notes for 搜
Quick Contrast
查 (chá) - use 搜 when emphasizing a thorough or methodical search, while 查 is more general and can imply a simpler or less detailed checking.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of using 搜 in more formal contexts, as it often implies a serious investigation. Common collocations include '搜索引擎' (search engine) and '搜索资料' (search for information). Avoid confusing it with 查 (chá), which means to check or inspect.
HSK Study Tips
Although 搜 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it connects well with other verbs of searching and inquiry, such as 找 (zhǎo) meaning 'to look for.' Focus on using it in contexts that require a deeper investigation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 搜 with 查, using them interchangeably. For instance, saying '我查资料' (I check information) instead of '我搜索资料' (I search for information) can lead to miscommunication.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 搜
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How Well Do You Know 搜?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 搜 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
搜 = 扌 + 叟. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 搜
IDS Structure⿰扌叟
搜Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
叟sou3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 搜?
How to say to search in Chinese
“to search” in Chinese is搜sōu
The character 搜 (sōu) means 'to search' or 'to seek.' It is commonly used in contexts involving investigation or thorough searching, such as in law enforcement or research. The nuance often implies a careful and methodical approach to finding something.
When to use 搜
Be mindful of using 搜 in more formal contexts, as it often implies a serious investigation. Common collocations include '搜索引擎' (search engine) and '搜索资料' (search for information). Avoid confusing it with 查 (chá), which means to check or inspect.
搜 or something close to it
查 (chá) - use 搜 when emphasizing a thorough or methodical search, while 查 is more general and can imply a simpler or less detailed checking.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 搜 with 查, using them interchangeably. For instance, saying '我查资料' (I check information) instead of '我搜索资料' (I search for information) can lead to miscommunication.
Write 搜
搜
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Practice writing 搜 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 搜
搜 carries 2 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.
瑞安博士周游世界为他的书____集资料。
Dr Ryan travelled the world gathering material for his book.
Common Confusions with 搜
搜vs索
suǒ
Similar shape but different meaning and function.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to search”?
or
Example Sentences for 搜 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
瑞安博士周游世界为他的书搜集资料。
ruì ān bó shì zhōu yóu shì jiè wéi tā de shū sōu jí zī liào。
Dr Ryan travelled the world gathering material for his book.
2
他们呈扇形散开，在寺庙周围仔细搜寻。
tā mén chéng shàn xíng sàn kāi， ， zài sì miào zhōu wéi zī xì sōu。
They fanned out and carefully combed the temple grounds.
3
有胆的话，你可以搜我的身。
yǒu dǎn de huà， ， nǐ kě yǐ sōu wǒ de。
You can search me if you think you're man enough.
4
在几个小时漫无目的的搜寻之后，他们快没燃料了。
zài jī gè xiǎo shí màn wú mù de de sōu xún zhī hòu， ， tā mén kuài méi rán liào。
After several hours of aimless searching they were getting low on fuel.
5
在搜集了有关情况后，他们说照片是伪造的。
zài sōu jí le yǒu guān qíng kuàng hòu， ， tā mén shuō zhào piàn shì wěi zào。
They said, after digging around, the photo was a fake.
Yes, 搜 (sōu) is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially in contexts related to searching for information, such as online or in research. It is a useful term for learners to know when discussing activities involving investigation or searching.
Some synonyms for 搜 (sōu) include 查 (chá), meaning 'to investigate', and 寻找 (xúnzhǎo), meaning 'to look for'. Each synonym has slightly different connotations but can be used in similar contexts of searching.
You can use 搜 (sōu) in a sentence like '我在网上搜资料' (Wǒ zài wǎng shàng sōu zīliào), which means 'I am searching for information online.' This demonstrates how the character is applied in practical situations.
搜 (sōu) means 'to search' or 'to seek'. It is commonly used in contexts where one is looking for something, whether it's information, a person, or an object. The character emphasizes thoroughness in the search process.
No, while it is often used in formal situations, it can also be used in everyday conversations when talking about searching for something.
搜 implies a more thorough and investigative type of search, while 找 is more general and can simply mean to look for.
Yes, you can use 搜 in contexts like '搜索信息' (to search for information online), especially when referring to search engines.
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