探す・捜す|さがすsagasu[0]heiban (flat)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Which spelling to use
探す探す is the most common written form of 探す（さがす） and the recommended choice for beginners; it uses kanji followed by kana.
捜す捜す is a less common written form of 捜す（さがす）; it also combines kanji and kana, but beginners should choose 探す instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto search for; to look for; to hunt for; to seekesp. 探す for something desired and 捜す for something lost
- godan verb, transitive verbto search (a house, pocket, etc.); to search through; to rummage in (e.g. a drawer); to fish around
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 探す（さがす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 探します（さがします） |
| Negative (nai) | 探さない（さがさない） |
| polite (masen) | 探しません（さがしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 探さず・探さぬ（さがさず・さがさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 探した（さがした） |
| polite (mashita) | 探しました（さがしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 探さなかった（さがさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 探しませんでした（さがしませんでした） |
| Te form | 探して（さがして） |
| Potential | 探せる（さがせる） |
| Passive | 探される（さがされる） |
| Causative | 探させる（さがさせる） |
| Causative passive | 探させられる（さがさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 探せば（さがせば） |
| tara | 探したら（さがしたら） |
| Volitional | 探そう（さがそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 探しましょう（さがしましょう） |
| Imperative | 探せ（さがせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym探し回るさがしまわるNeutral「探す」 with the nuance of going around searching everywhere: 「家中を探し回る」. Stresses the hunting from place to place.
- Synonym探し求めるさがしもとめるWrittenWritten/formal. To seek something you long to obtain, with persistence: 「理想を探し求める」. Adds a devoted, single-minded nuance that 「探す」 lacks.
- Synonym捜索そうさくWrittenWritten/formal. Searching for missing people or things, or a legally authorized search: 「家宅捜索」. Not for everyday looking-for.
- Synonym探るさぐるNeutralTo grope for something unseen, or to probe secretly into someone's mind or moves: 「本心を探る」. Not a plain swap for 「探す」.
- Synonym検索けんさくNeutralSearching databases or the internet for information: 「ネットで検索する」. Not used for hunting for lost objects.
- Synonym探索たんさくWrittenWritten/formal. Exploring the unknown or investigating uncharted matters: 「宇宙探索」. Research-flavored, not everyday searching.
- SynonymサーチCasualColloquial loanword for search, mostly in IT contexts: 「サーチエンジン」. In other settings use 「探す」 or 「検索」.
- Related詮索せんさくWrittenWritten/formal. Prying into other people's affairs in detail; usually carries a nosy, negative tone. Not a neutral substitute for 「探す」.
- Antonym見つけるみつけるNeutralThe counterpart of 「探す」: to find what you were looking for: 「財布を見つける」. 「探す」 is the search; 「見つける」 is the result.
- Antonym発見するWrittenWritten/formal counterpart of 「探す」: to discover or come upon something, typically something new, as in 「新種を発見する」.
For looking for something, 「探す」 is the default. Use 「探し回る」 for searching all over, 「捜索」 for missing-person or legal searches, 「検索」 for online and database searches, 「探る」 for probing or prying, 「探索」 for exploring the unknown, and 「見つける」 when you actually find it.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
