捜 — Search, Investigate

Welcome to our guide for the N2 kanji 捜! This essential kanji helps you express the nuanced act of searching, looking for, or investigating. It often carries a more formal, thorough, or physical connotation compared to its counterpart, 探.

Meaning

The kanji 捜 (sō, saga.su) primarily means "to search," "to look for," or "to investigate." While it shares semantic ground with 探す (さがす), 捜す often implies a more systematic, official, or rigorous search. Consider a police investigation, a rescue operation for a missing person, or a meticulous search for a crucial lost item. This kanji suggests an active, deliberate, and often extensive effort to uncover something hidden or misplaced.

The kanji 捜 is a phono-semantic compound, meaning its structure combines a semantic radical (indicating meaning) with a phonetic component (indicating sound). The left side, 扌 (てへん - tehen), is the "hand" radical. This component clearly indicates an action performed with the hands or involving physical effort, visually reinforcing the idea of physically moving, sifting, or reaching to find something. The right side is 叟, which serves as the phonetic component, lending the kanji its On'yomi reading of ソウ (SOU). Historically, 叟 also carried meanings related to old age and wisdom. In some contexts, it could even imply a careful, deliberate examination or exploration. This combination, therefore, suggests a diligent, hand-involved search or investigation, often carried out with the care and thoroughness one might expect from an experienced person.

The kanji's visual shape effectively connects to its meaning: the "hand" (扌) actively engaged in the process of "searching" or "investigating" (suggested by 叟). It has 10 strokes and, while a Joyo kanji (meaning it's in common use), it is not assigned a specific grade level within elementary school kanji.

Readings

The kanji 捜 has both On'yomi (Chinese-derived) and Kun'yomi (native Japanese) readings, each used in different contexts.

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings

The primary On'yomi for 捜 is ソウ (SOU). You'll predominantly encounter this reading when the kanji forms part of a compound word, especially in formal, technical, or official contexts related to investigation and systematic searching.

• 捜査そうさ (sōsa) — This term refers to an investigation, often by police or authorities into a crime or incident. It implies a formal and thorough process of gathering evidence and facts.

• 警察けいさつによる捜査そうさ (keisatsu ni yoru sōsa) — police investigation

• 捜査そうさを開始かいしする (sōsa o kaishi suru) — to commence an investigation

• 捜索そうさく (sōsaku) — This compound means search, commonly for a missing person or object, or in a search and rescue operation. It suggests a broad, and often physically demanding, search.

• 行方不明者ゆくえふめいしゃの捜索そうさく (yukuefumeisha no sōsaku) — search for a missing person

• 家宅捜索かたくそうさく (kataku sōsaku) — house search (e.g., by police)

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

The main Kun'yomi for 捜 is さが.す (saga.su), forming the verb 捜す (さがす). This reading is used when the kanji functions as a native Japanese verb, meaning "to search" or "to look for." It's worth noting that 捜す often suggests a more directed, purposeful, and sometimes official search compared to 探す (さがす).

• 捜すさがす (sagasu) — To search for, to look for (often implying a thorough or official search for something important or lost).

• 犯人はんにんを捜すさがす (hannin o sagasu) — to search for a criminal

• 失うしなくした鍵かぎを捜すさがす (ushinakushita kagi o sagasu) — to search for a lost key

• 捜し当てるさがしあてる (sagashiateru) — To find after searching; to track down.

• 隠かくされた財宝ざいほうを捜し当てるさがしあてる (kakusareta zaihō o sagashiateru) — to find hidden treasure after searching

Common Words & Compounds

Here are various compound words and phrases using 捜, categorized by their thematic usage:

Official and Investigative Contexts:

• 捜査そうさ (sōsa) — investigation, inquiry

• 捜査官そうさかん (sōsa-kan) — investigator, detective

• 特別捜査本部とくべつそうさほんぶ (tokubetsu sōsa honbu) — special investigation headquarters

Search and Rescue Contexts:

• 捜索そうさく (sōsaku) — search (for a missing person or object)

• 捜索隊そうさくたい (sōsaku-tai) — search party, search team

• 人捜しひとさがし (hitosagashi) — search for a person

• 家宅捜索かたくそうさく (kataku sōsaku) — house search, property raid (by authorities)

General and Action-Oriented Usage:

• 捜すさがす (sagasu) — to search for, to look for

• 探し物さがしもの (sagashimono) — lost item, something being searched for

• 探し物さがしものは何なんですか？ (Sagashimono wa nan desu ka?) — What are you looking for?

• 捜し当てるさがしあてる (sagashiateru) — to find after searching, to track down

• 捜し出すさがしだす (sagashidasu) — to find out, to discover (after searching)

• 手捜してさがし (tesagashi) — groping (by hand), fumbling, searching by touch

• 暗闇くらやみの中なかを手捜てさがしで進すすむ (kurayami no naka o tesagashi de susumu) — to grope one's way through the darkness

Example Sentences

These sentences illustrate the practical use of 捜 in various contexts, from everyday situations to more formal scenarios.

Memory Tip

To remember 捜, let's break down its components. The left side is 扌 (てへん), the "hand" radical. The right side, 叟, can be imagined as an "old man." Now, picture a meticulous old detective or an elderly person who has lost something valuable. They use their "hands" (扌) to painstakingly and thoroughly "search" (捜) for it, perhaps carefully feeling around or sifting through objects. This "old man's" diligence conveys the systematic and official nature often associated with 捜. Think of it as: an "old man searching with his hand."