Definitions

xún (verb) to search; to look for; to seek

Etymology

Simplified form of . Pictograph of two outstretched arms measuring length. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character '寻' evolved from its traditional form '尋', which is structurally composed of '彐', '工', '口', and '寸', elements that collectively suggest coordinated hand and speech actions within a defined scope. Originally denoting an ancient unit of length equivalent to the span of outstretched arms, the term's application gradually extended from this concrete measurement to the abstract act of searching or inquiring, as the physical notion of extending one's reach became linked to the mental effort of seeking objects or knowledge.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我在找我的猫。

Wǒ zài xúnzhǎo wǒ de māo.

I am looking for my cat.

找丢失的铅笔。

Tā xúnzhǎo diūshī de qiānbǐ.

He is looking for the lost pencil.

我们找了整整一天。

Wǒmen xúnzhǎole zhěngzhěng yī tiān.

We searched for a whole day.

思着明天的事情。

Tā xúnsi zhe míngtiān de shìqing.

She is thinking about tomorrow's matters.

这是一个常的早晨。

Zhè shì yīgè xúncháng de zǎochen.

This is an ordinary morning.

找真理是科学的目标。

Xúnzhǎo zhēnlǐ shì kēxué de mùbiāo.

Seeking truth is the goal of science.

他在图书馆找那本需要的书。

Tā zài túshūguǎn xúnzhǎo nà běn xūyào de shū.

He is looking for that needed book in the library.

人生就是不断找意义的过程。

Rénshēng jiùshì bùduàn xúnzhǎo yìyì de guòchéng.

Life is a constant process of searching for meaning.