Meaning and Usage
The verb 捜す (さがす) means "to search" or "to look for" something that is lost or needed. It often implies a careful or thorough search, such as looking for a lost item or a person.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see 捜す used when talking about searching for lost belongings, people, or opportunities like jobs. It is a common verb in everyday conversation and formal contexts like police reports.
Collocations and Patterns
- 財布を捜す (さいふをさがす): to look for a wallet
- 犯人を捜す (はんにんをさがす): to search for a criminal
- 新しい仕事を捜す (あたらしいしごとをさがす): to look for a new job
These collocations show how 捜す is used with concrete objects or abstract goals.
Register and Nuance
捜す is neutral in politeness and can be used in both casual and formal speech. It is often contrasted with 探す (also read さがす), which can mean "to search" but sometimes implies a more general or less urgent search. 捜す specifically emphasizes searching for something lost or missing.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 捜す with 探す. Remember that 捜す is used for searching for something lost or missing, often with urgency or thoroughness, while 探す can be used more broadly for looking for things, places, or abstract concepts.