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Definition
To retrieve, recover, or find something that was lost.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
While 尋回 is the formal written form, Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use 搵返 in daily conversation. The character 搵 acts as the verb for searching or finding, while 返 functions as a directional complement indicating the object has returned to the owner or its proper place. It is essential to use 搵返 instead of 尋回 to sound natural in spoken contexts.
Related words
Common phrases
to recover lost property
to regain confidence
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 尋回 in casual speech because they see it in written news or formal notices. Using it in a conversation with friends will sound overly stiff or like reading from a textbook.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
