尋 means “ask, inquire”

たずねる · tazuneru

Also: fathom, look for

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)
たずねる, ひろ
On'yomi (Chinese reading)
ジン

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 12 strokes

The story

A hand (ヨ) on top, another (寸) below, with 工 and 口 between: picture arms spread wide while the mouth asks. 尋 was once a length, two outstretched arms. 尋ねる is to ask, as in asking the way, and 尋問 is questioning.

Used in 尋ねる (tazuneru, to ask), 尋問 (jinmon, interrogation), and 尋常 (jinjou, ordinary)

More from Speak & Explain

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.