How to say "search" in Japanese

• 探索たんさくCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe general word for searching or hunting for something, with the feel of actively seeking it out; it can also denote an item of research. Use it when you set out to find something.
  その島しまは隅々すみずみまで探索たんさくされている。↗

  Every part of the island has been explored.
• 検索けんさくCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe word for looking information up: searching a dictionary, a database or the internet. If your 'search' means retrieving information from a source, this is the word you want.
  政府せいふはその問題もんだいの決定けってい案あんをまだ検索けんさく中ちゅうだ。↗

  The government is still groping for a solution to the problem.
• 捜査そうさJLPT N1approx.Common
  suru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveSpecifically the search conducted as part of a criminal investigation: police or detectives investigating a crime. It is not the word for looking things up or for hunting for a missing person.
  警察けいさつは事件じけんの捜査そうさをした。↗

  The police looked into that incident.
• サーチCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe English loanword. Outside borrowed and technical expressions it is seldom the word you want: in an ordinary sentence a kanji word is the natural way to say 'search'.
• 捜索そうさくJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe search for a person or thing that has gone missing; a manhunt. Do not confuse it with the near-homophone 捜査, which is the criminal investigation rather than the physical search.
  私わたしたちは散開さんかいして森もりの中なかを捜索そうさくした。↗

  We spread out and began to search through the woods.

Use 検索 for looking up information in a dictionary or on the internet, 探索 for hunting or exploring for something, 捜索 for a missing person or thing, 捜査 for criminal investigations, and 「サーチ」 mainly in borrowed expressions.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 探索たんさくsearch
• 検索けんさくlooking up (e.g. a word in a dictionary)
• 捜査そうさsearch (esp. in criminal investigations)
• サーチsearch
• 捜索そうさくsearch (esp. for someone or something missing)
• 探求たんきゅうsearch
• 追求ついきゅうpursuit (of a goal, ideal, etc.)
• 調べるしらべるto examine
• ヤフるto search (using the Yahoo search engine)
• 探りを入れるさぐりをいれるto probe
• 詮索せんさくinquiry into
• 探すさがすto search (a house, pocket, etc.)
• 尋ねるたずねるto search
• 手配てはいsearch (by police)
• たどるto follow (a clue, scent, tracks, plot, etc.)
• 狩るかるto search (for a criminal)
• 身体検査しんたいけんさfrisking