ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY

to look for / to seek

zhǎo
7 strokes · 扌 (hand radical) + 戈 · HSK 1

Where 找 comes from

找 = 扌 (hand) + 戈 (a weapon/halberd). A hand reaching out, searching — to look for something. The hand radical 扌 (a squished 手) marks dozens of action verbs you do with your hands.

找 in Chinese culture

找 is 'to look for / seek': 找人 (look for someone, with 人), 找工作 (look for a job), 找到 (to find, 'seek-arrive'). It also means 'to give change' — 找钱 (with 钱) is the change handed back after you pay. And 找你 can mean both 'looking for you' and 'giving you your change', depending on context. A practical, everyday verb you'll use shopping and meeting people alike.

Example

找你 zhǎo nǐ — to look for you

我在找我的书。
Wǒ zài zhǎo wǒ de shū.
I'm looking for my book.

How to remember it

A hand (扌) reaching out, searching — to LOOK FOR.

找钱 means 'to give change' — the money handed back after you pay. So 找 covers both 'searching for' something and 'returning' the right coins.

Same sound, different tones

1st zhāo
to beckon
2nd zháo
to catch / touch
3rd zhǎo
to look for
4th zhào
to shine / photo

Words unlocked by 找

找你 zhǎo nǐ
look for you
找到 zhǎodào
to find
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