cam4尋寻
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Yalechàhm
Definition
To search for, look for, or seek.
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How it's used
While 尋 is the formal character for yesterday, it is almost exclusively used in written contexts or specific compound words like 尋日. In everyday spoken Cantonese, the word for search is almost always 搵, and using 尋 to mean search in conversation sounds overly literary or like a Mandarin loanword. You will frequently encounter 尋 in written news or formal reports, but it rarely appears in casual text messages or spoken dialogue.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse the spoken use of 尋 in 尋日 with the verb to search. Learners often mistakenly use 尋 as a verb in speech because it appears in dictionaries, but native speakers will find it unnatural and prefer 搵 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
