Japanese 探す: looking for something

The idea

探さがす is a godan verb. Its polite non-past is 探さがします, polite negative 探さがしません, polite past 探さがしました, and て form 探さがして. The non-past can express a habit or a future event, depending on context. を marks what is sought. 探さがす describes the search, not its success; 見みつける describes finding.

Examples

• 家いえで鍵かぎを探さがします。I look for the key at home.
• 友達ともだちと新あたらしい部屋へやを探さがしています。I am looking for a new room with a friend.
• 昨日きのう、駅えきでかばんを探さがしました。Yesterday I looked for my bag at the station.
• この店みせで本ほんを探さがしています。I am looking for a book in this shop.
• 一緒いっしょに猫ねこを探さがしてください。Please look for the cat with me.
• 今日きょうは仕事しごとを探さがしません。I will not look for work today.

Watch out

Do not add て directly to the dictionary form 探さがす; the correct て form is 探さがして.

Try it yourself

1. ＿。（探さがす→ます）

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   探します

   探さがします is the polite non-past of 探さがす; context determines whether it describes a habit or the future.

2. ＿。（探さがす→て）

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   探して

   探さがして is the て form of 探さがす; it can link one action to a following clause.

3. 鍵かぎ＿探さがします。（を／が）

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   を

   を is correct here. を marks what is sought. 探さがす describes the search, not its success; 見みつける describes finding.

Use it today

Make two sentences with 探さがす, one in the polite past and one negative. Check the forms and particles against the table and examples.