Godan verb, transitive verb

  1. to search for, to look for, to hunt for, to seek. Esp. 探す for something desired and 捜す for something lost.
  2. to search (a house, pocket, etc.), to search through, to rummage in (e.g. a drawer), to fish around.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
探す さがす
 
捜す さがす

Contained Kanji Breakdown

grope, search, look for
さが.す タン さぐ.る (6th, N3)
hand, hand radical (no. 64)
シュ
deep
a net, net-like, radical 122
wa-shaped crown radical (no. 14)
ベキ (Kentei 1)
legs radical (no. 10)
ジン ニン がい (Kentei 1)
tree, wood
き モク こ- (1st, N5)