捜索|そうさくsousaku[0]heiban (flat)
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- noun, suru verb, transitive verbsearch (esp. for someone or something missing); manhunt
- noun, suru verb, transitive verb, lawlegally authorized search of a person, building, etc.
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 捜索する(そうさくする) |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 捜索します(そうさくします) |
| Negative (nai) | 捜索しない(そうさくしない) |
| polite (masen) | 捜索しません(そうさくしません) |
| classical zu / nu | 捜索せず・捜索せぬ(そうさくせず・そうさくせぬ) |
| Past (ta) | 捜索した(そうさくした) |
| polite (mashita) | 捜索しました(そうさくしました) |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 捜索しなかった(そうさくしなかった) |
| polite (masen deshita) | 捜索しませんでした(そうさくしませんでした) |
| Te form | 捜索して(そうさくして) |
| Potential | 捜索できる(そうさくできる) |
| Passive | 捜索される(そうさくされる) |
| Causative | 捜索させる(そうさくさせる) |
| Causative passive | 捜索させられる(そうさくさせられる) |
| Conditional (ba) | 捜索すれば(そうさくすれば) |
| tara | 捜索したら(そうさくしたら) |
| Volitional | 捜索しよう(そうさくしよう) |
| polite (mashou) | 捜索しましょう(そうさくしましょう) |
| Imperative | 捜索しろ(そうさくしろ) |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
- Synonym探索たんさくWrittenWritten word for exploring or hunting into the unknown, as in 「宇宙探索」; 捜索 targets missing people or legally authorized searches.
- SynonymサーチNeutralA loanword meaning search; mostly used in IT contexts.
- Synonym探すさがすNeutralThe most common word for looking for things or people; 捜索 is more formal, for missing persons or legal searches.
- Related検索けんさくNeutralInformation retrieval, as in 「ネットで検索」; leans toward looking things up on a computer rather than physical searching.
- Related探し求めるさがしもとめるNeutralSeeking something single-mindedly, as in 「答えを探し求める」; suggests a long-term pursuit rather than a one-off search.
- Related調査ちょうさNeutralInvestigating actual conditions, as in 「実態調査」; can also cover tracing someone's whereabouts, while 捜索 is a physical hunt or legal search.
- Related探し回るさがしまわるNeutralHunting around everywhere for something, as in 「町中を探し回る」; suggests an individual going from place to place.
- Related探求たんきゅうWrittenWritten word for seeking or pursuing something, as in 「真理の探求」; it leans toward abstract goals like truth, while 捜索 hunts for the missing or is a legal search.
- Related探るさぐるNeutralFeeling or groping for something, or secretly probing; leans toward using the hands or covert investigation.
- Related調べしらべNeutralA noun for investigation or inspection, also interrogation; 捜索 focuses on finding people or things.
Use 「捜索」 for searching for missing people or things and legally authorized searches, as in 「行方不明者の捜索」 and 「家宅捜索」. For everyday looking, say 「探す」; for looking up information, 「検索」; for pursuing abstract goals, 「探求」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only


