探 — Search, Look For, Investigate

Meaning

The kanji 探 (タン, さが.す, さぐ.る) primarily means 'to search,' 'to look for,' 'to investigate,' 'to probe,' and 'to explore.' It's a semantic-phonetic compound, a common type of kanji construction where one part suggests the meaning and the other indicates the pronunciation.

The left radical, 扌 (てへん, tehen), is a variant of 手 (te), meaning 'hand.' This radical suggests an action involving the hands, or a physical/mental process of active seeking. When you search or explore, you're actively using your hands to feel around, or metaphorically, using your mind to grasp information.

The right side, 𠬞 (the phonetic component), originally referred to something like 'a place where many people gather' or 'a hand reaching out.' While its ancient meaning is intricate, it gives the 'tan' sound. Together, the 'hand' radical and the phonetic component form a kanji that visually represents reaching out, feeling, or meticulously searching for something, whether tangible or abstract. This visual connection aligns with the core meanings of 探, all of which involve an active process of discovery or inquiry. With 11 strokes, this kanji is taught in the 6th grade of Japanese elementary schools, indicating its relatively common use.

Readings

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

The On'yomi reading of 探 is タン. This reading is typically used in compound words, often in more formal or abstract contexts related to investigation, exploration, or inquiry. You'll frequently see it in technical, scientific, or official terminology.

• 探偵たんてい (tantei) — detective. This word combines 探 (search, investigate) with 偵 (spy, scout), literally meaning 'one who spies and searches.'
• 探検たんけん (tanken) — exploration, expedition. Here, 探 (explore) pairs with 険 (danger, difficult place), suggesting exploration into challenging environments.
• 探査たんさ (tansa) — investigation, exploration (often scientific or systematic). This compound uses 探 (probe) with 査 (examine), indicating a thorough, systematic inquiry, like in 宇宙探査うちゅうたんさ (space exploration) or geological surveys.

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

The Kun'yomi readings are used when the kanji stands alone or with okurigana (accompanying hiragana). 探 has two main Kun'yomi readings, each carrying a slightly different nuance.

• さが.す (sagasu): This is the transitive verb 'to search for' or 'to look for.' It implies actively seeking something specific that might be lost, hidden, or desired. It's often used for concrete items or people.

• 探すさがす (sagasu) — to search for, to look for. (e.g., 鍵を探すかぎをさがす - to look for keys; 仕事を探すしごとをさがす - to look for a job).

• 探し物さがしもの (sagashimono) — something one is looking for, a lost item.

• さぐ.る (saguru): This is the transitive verb 'to probe,' 'to grope,' 'to feel around for,' or 'to investigate discreetly.' It suggests a more exploratory action, often physical (by touch) or subtle (by cautious inquiry), rather than a direct search for a known item.

• 探るさぐる (saguru) — to probe, to grope, to explore (by touch or discreetly). (e.g., ポケットの中を探るポケットのなかをさぐる - to feel around inside one's pocket; 相手の出方を探るあいてのでかたをさぐる - to feel out the opponent's intentions).

• 暗闇を手探りで進むくらやみをてさぐりで Susumu (kurayami o tesaguri de susumu) — to grope one's way through the dark.

Common Words & Compounds

The kanji 探 appears in many useful compounds, covering a range of activities from everyday searching to professional investigation and scientific exploration. Here are some common examples, grouped by theme:

Investigation & Inquiry

• 探偵たんてい (tantei) — detective, private investigator. Someone whose job is to search and investigate mysteries.
• 探査たんさ (tansa) — investigation, exploration (often systematic and scientific). Used for space probes, geological surveys, and similar systematic inquiries.
• 探求たんきゅう (tankyū) — pursuit, search for truth, knowledge, or an ideal. This implies a deep, intellectual search.
• 探索たんさく (tansaku) — search, exploration. A general term for searching, often for information, resources, or new areas, like a computer file search.
• 探究心たんきゅうしん (tankyūshin) — spirit of inquiry, intellectual curiosity. The desire to seek knowledge.

Exploration & Discovery

• 探検たんけん (tanken) — exploration, expedition. Usually refers to exploring unknown or dangerous places, like a jungle expedition.
• 探勝たんしょう (tanshou) — sightseeing, scenic exploration. To visit and explore scenic spots for pleasure.
• 探訪たんぼう (tanbou) — visit and interview, reporting trip, exploration. Often used when journalists visit a site for a report.
• 探鉱たんこう (tankou) — mineral prospecting, exploration for minerals.

Searching & Probing

• 探すさがす (sagasu) — to search for, to look for (e.g., a lost item, a person, a job).
• 探し物さがしもの (sagashimono) — something one is looking for, a lost item.
• 探りさぐり (saguri) — groping, probing, reconnaissance. Can also refer to the act of feeling out a situation.
• 手探りてさぐり (tesaguri) — groping, fumbling, feeling one's way. Often used when visibility is low or one cannot see, like in a dark room.
• 探りを入れるさぐりをいれる (saguri o ireru) — to feel out, to sound out (someone's intentions or opinions).

Example Sentences

Memory Tip

To remember 探, focus on its components. The left part, 扌 (手へん, tehen), is the 'hand' radical, clearly showing an action done with the hands. Picture your hand reaching out. The right part, 𠬞, looks a bit like 'again' (又) on top of 'cover' or 'house' (宀). You can think of it as "repeatedly using your hand to uncover or feel around inside something." So, the memory can be: you use your hand (扌) to search or probe for something, perhaps again (又) and again, feeling under a cover (宀). This image of an active, repetitive motion of the hand captures the essence of searching, investigating, or exploring by touch.