捜 means “search for”

さがす · sagasu

Also: search, look for, locate

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

さがす

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ソウ, シュ, シュウ

JLPT N2 · Taught in secondary school · 10 strokes

The story

A hand (扌) beside another hand (又) holding up a light: picture a search through a dark house. 捜す is looking for what's lost, like a missing child, where 探す seeks what you want, and 捜査 is a police investigation.

Used in 捜す (sagasu, to search for), 捜査 (sousa, criminal investigation), and 捜索 (sousaku, search operation)

More from Handle With Care

• 採 pick
• 触 touch
• 包 wrap
• 照 shine on
• 詰 pack
• 埋 bury
• 封 seal
• 捨 throw away
• 沈 sink
• 拾 pick up
• 磨 polish
• 挟 put between

Learn 捜 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

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