sou3溯

Jyutpingsou3

Yalesou

Definition

To go upstream, go against the current, or trace back to a source.

to go upstream; to go against the current
to trace back; to recall

writtenother

How it's used

Primarily used in formal or literary contexts, this verb is rarely heard in casual daily speech. It is most frequently encountered in the compound form 追溯 when discussing historical origins or tracing the timeline of an event. When describing physical movement against a water current, speakers almost always prefer the more descriptive phrase 逆流而上.

Examples

keoi5佢dei6哋jik6逆lau4流ji4而sou3溯，hou2好san1辛fu2苦sin1先faan1返dou3到heoi3去。

They went upstream against the current, it was very hard to get back.

le1呢gin2件si6事ho2可ji5以zeoi1追sou3溯dou3到gei2幾sap6十nin4年cin4前。

This matter can be traced back to several decades ago.

Common phrases

zeoi1追sou3溯lik6歷si2史

trace history

trace to the source

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use this word in everyday conversation to mean simply 'going back' or 'returning', but it specifically implies moving against a flow or tracing an origin back to a source.