探 means “search, look for”

さがす · sagasu

Also: grope

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

さぐる, さがす

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

タン

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 6 · 11 strokes

The story

A hand (扌) reaching into the depths, with the same right side as 深, deep: groping for what you cannot see. 探す is to look for, 探偵 is a detective, and 探検 is an expedition into the unknown.

Used in 探す (sagasu, to look for), 探偵 (tantei, detective), and 探検 (tanken, exploration)

More from Ask & Tell

• 誤 mistake
• 鳴 cry (animal)
• 表 surface
• 調 investigate
• 報 report
• 告 tell
• 求 seek
• 示 show
• 伝 convey
• 観 view
• 呼 call
• 辞 word

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