探る|さぐるsaguru[0]heiban (flat)

1. godan verb, transitive verbto feel around for; to fumble for; to grope for; to search for; to look for
2. godan verb, transitive verbto investigate; to probe into; to spy on; to sound out
   遠とおまわしに彼かれの意見いけんを探さぐった。↗

   I sounded him out about his views.
3. godan verb, transitive verbto explore (parts unknown); to enjoy (natural beauty)

• Synonym手探りてさぐりNeutralGroping about with the hands, or feeling one's way forward when the situation is unclear, as in 「手探りの状態」. A noun; 探る is the verb for the same act.
• Synonym探し求めるさがしもとめるNeutralTo seek something earnestly, often over a long time, as in 「真実を探し求める」. 探る leans toward feeling things out or probing covertly rather than wholehearted pursuit.
• Synonym探すさがすNeutralThe everyday default for looking for something or someone. 「探る」 leans instead toward feeling around by hand or quietly sounding things out, as in 「相手の本音を探る」.
• Related捜索そうさくWrittenWritten/formal prose. A large-scale search, as in 「行方不明者の捜索」, or a legally authorized one. 探る is for covert probing or feeling by touch, not manhunts.
• Related探し回るさがしまわるNeutralTo hunt all over for something, as in 「街中を探し回る」. The emphasis is on going from place to place; 探る is about feeling around or probing secretly.
• Related調べるしらべるNeutralThe most common everyday word for looking something up or checking into it. 「探る」 leans toward probing quietly or feeling around by hand.
• Related捜査そうさFormalFormal. A police investigation, as in 「犯罪捜査」 — specifically criminal detection. 探る is broader: feeling around or covertly probing intentions.
• Related調査ちょうさNeutralA systematic investigation into actual conditions, as in 「アンケート調査」; it can be open or covert. 探る stresses feeling by touch or secretly sizing someone up.
• Related模索もさくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Groping for a method or way out, as in 「解決策を模索する」; abstract searching, whereas 「探る」 leans toward feeling around or quiet probing.
• Related吟味ぎんみWrittenWritten/formal prose. Close, careful examination and selection, as in 「材料を吟味する」 — vetting what is before you rather than probing for what is hidden.
• Related取り調べるとりしらべるFormalFormal. To interrogate or question a suspect closely, as in 「容疑者を取り調べる」. 探る is covert information-gathering, not official questioning.
• Related検分けんぶんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Inspecting on the spot, going over a site or items in person to check their state. 探る is about searching for what you cannot see.
• Related検査けんさNeutralTesting or inspecting against a standard, as in 「健康検査」. 探る is not about checking condition but about feeling around or probing secretly.
• Related査察ささつFormalFormal. An official inspection for compliance, as in 「税務査察」; governmental oversight. 探る is general-purpose: feeling around or sounding out.
• Related審査しんさFormalFormal. Screening or judging to decide whether something passes, as in 「入国審査」. 探る gathers information; 審査 rules on it.
• Related点検てんけんNeutralGoing over items one by one, as in 「設備点検」; typically maintenance checks. 探る is a search for something unknown, not a routine inspection.
• Related探検たんけんNeutralExploring unknown territory in person, as in 「洞窟を探検する」. Adventure into new places; 探る is probing for something specific or hidden.
• Related検索けんさくNeutralLooking up information, especially on a computer or the internet, as in 「ネットで検索」. The focus is data retrieval rather than probing or feeling around as with 「探る」.
• Related見極めるみきわめるNeutralTo see something through to a final judgment of its true nature, as in 「真偽を見極める」. 探る is the probing itself, not the concluding assessment.
• Related探究たんきゅうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Deep, scholarly inquiry, as in 「真理を探究する」. 探る is more general: feeling around or probing what is hidden rather than pursuing knowledge.
• Related尋ねるたずねるNeutralTo ask a person directly, as in 「道を尋ねる」. It can also mean to seek, but its core is questioning; 探る gets information by touch or stealth.
• Related探索たんさくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Searching or exploring over a wide range, as in 「宇宙探索」. 探る centers on feeling by touch or quietly sounding things out rather than broad exploration.
• Related詮索せんさくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Prying into other people's business, as in 「詮索好き」; it carries a meddlesome nuance that 探る lacks.

Use 「探る」 for feeling around by hand or covertly probing someone's intentions: 「ポケットを探る」「相手の本音を探る」. To look for a thing or person, say 「探す」; to look something up, 「調べる」; to grope for a way out, 「模索」. 「捜索」 is a large-scale or legal search, 「捜査」 a police investigation, 「調査」 a systematic survey. 「検査」 and 「点検」 are inspections, 「審査」 is screening, 「検索」 is computer lookup, 「探検」 and 「探索」 are exploration, 「詮索」 is prying, 「尋ねる」 is asking a person, and 「探し求める」 is long, earnest seeking.

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

1. 目めに見みえないものを手足てあしの感覚かんかくなどで探し求さがしもとめたり感じ取かんじとったりする。
2. 相手あいての考かんがえ、様子ようす、動うごき、所在しょざいなどを密ひそかに調しらべること。
3. 未知みちの物事ものごとを明あきらかにするため調しらべる。探究たんきゅうする。
4. 考かんがえうる良よいやり方かたを探さがす。
5. 探訪たんぼうする。