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Definition
To look for, search for, or seek to find something.
neutraldaily actions
How it's used
Although 尋找 is widely understood, it carries a slightly more formal or literary tone compared to the everyday verb 搵. In casual spoken Cantonese, people almost exclusively use 搵 or 搵緊 to express the act of searching or looking for something. Using 尋找 in a very informal setting can sound like you are reading from a script or trying to sound overly sophisticated.
Examples
What are you looking for?
I looked for a long time but couldn't find the keys.
Related words
Common phrases
to look for opportunities
to seek the truth
Common mistake
Learners often use 尋找 interchangeably with 搵, but 搵 is much more versatile and natural in daily life. Also, remember that 尋找 is a verb, so you cannot use it as a noun to mean 'a search' in the same way you might use the English word.
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.
