Meet 探 in words for looking for things, feeling around and exploring. Learn each reading with its complete word.

The idea

探 has 11 strokes; use the linked diagram for their order. 探す is さがす and 探る is さぐる, while 探検 and 探偵 use たん. The table connects readings and meanings.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
探すさがすlook for
探るさぐるprobe; feel around
探検たんけんexploration
探偵たんていdetective

Examples

  • 鍵かぎを探さがしています。I am looking for my keys.
  • 暗くらい中なかでスイッチを探さぐりました。I felt around in the dark for the switch.
  • 私わたしたちは森もりを探検たんけんしています。We are exploring the forest.
  • 探偵たんていが事件じけんを調しらべました。The detective investigated the case.
  • 問題もんだいの解決策かいけつさくを探さがしています。I am searching for a solution to the problem.
  • 医者いしゃが私わたしの脈みゃくを探さぐりました。The doctor felt my pulse.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

探す means to look for something; 探る suggests probing or feeling around to discover something. Do not confuse 探 with the similarly shaped 深.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 探す in hiragana.

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    さがす

    探す is さがす: 鍵を探しています means “I am looking for my keys.”

  2. Write the reading of 探検 in hiragana.

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    たんけん

    探検 is たんけん: 森を探検しています describes exploring a forest.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿偵（たんてい）［探／深］.

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    探

    探 completes 探偵（たんてい）, a detective; 深 does not form this word.

Use it today

Write 探 following the diagram. Cover the table, read 探す and 探検, and make a sentence about a search.