寻
seek, fathom
At a glance · 寻
Evolution of the glyph
Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.
甲骨文、金文象张开两臂量度之形（或说从工从口从寸），会意长度与探求。本为长度单位（八尺）。隶楷作「尋」，简化作「寻」。
What the sketch shows
Origins & notes
「寻」本为长度单位，引申为寻找、寻常。
Structure
会意字，象伸手量度，引申为探求、寻访。
At a glance
Pinyinxún
Radical寸
Strokes6
UnicodeU+5BFB
Character type会意
Theme动作
Six languages, one character
Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.
English
seek, fathom
To seek, search; an ancient length unit.
Français
chercher, silloner
Chercher, fouiller; une unité de longueur.
Español
buscar, sondear
Buscar, escudriñar; unidad de longitud.
العربية
يبحث، يطلب
يبحث أو وحدة طول قديمة.
Русский
искать, обычный
Искать, разыскивать; древняя мера длины.
Common words
- 寻找xún zhǎoseek
- 寻xúnlook for