Meaning of 寻求
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to seek; to look for
How to use 寻求
寻求 is a fairly formal verb used with abstract objects like help, support, solutions, or cooperation. It is common in news, writing, and serious conversation. Example: 他向朋友寻求帮助。(Tā xiàng péngyou xúnqiú bāngzhù.) He sought help from his friends.
寻 (xún) means to search and 求 (qiú) means to ask for or seek. Put them together and you are searching and asking at the same time, so 寻求 means to seek something you need.
Common mistake: Learners often use 寻求 for physical things like lost keys, but that needs 找 (zhǎo) or 寻找 (xúnzhǎo). Also watch the tones: both syllables are second tone, xúnqiú, not xùnqiū.
寻求 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
寻 xún · to search · 6 strokes
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- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
求 qiú · to seek · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
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- 7
Related words
Words that share a character with 寻求.
| 要求 | yāoqiú | to request; to require |
| 请求 | qǐngqiú | to request; to ask; request (CL:個|个[ge4]) |
| 需求 | xūqiú | requirement; to require |
| 寻找 | xúnzhǎo | to seek; to look for |
| 追求 | zhuīqiú | to pursue (a goal etc) stubbornly; to seek after |
| 征求 | zhēngqiú | to solicit; to seek |
| 求职 | qiúzhí | to seek employment |
| 求婚 | qiúhūn | to propose marriage |
| 寻常 | xúncháng | usual; common; ordinary |
| 搜寻 | sōuxún | to search; to look for |
| 求救 | qiújiù | to seek help (when in distress or having difficulties) |
| 恳求 | kěnqiú | to beg; to beseech |
Questions about 寻求
What does 寻求 mean?
寻求 (xúnqiú) means "to seek; to look for" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 寻求?
寻求 is made of 2 characters: 寻 (6 strokes), 求 (7 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.
Is 寻求 an HSK word?
Yes. 寻求 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 寻求 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 寻求 is written 尋求.
What is the difference between 寻求 and 追求?
寻求 means looking for something you need, such as help or a solution. 追求 (zhuīqiú) means actively pursuing a goal or ideal, like happiness or success, and it can also mean courting someone romantically.
What words commonly go with 寻求?
Common pairings include 寻求帮助 (seek help), 寻求支持 (seek support), 寻求合作 (seek cooperation), and 寻求解决办法 (seek a solution). The pattern 向某人寻求 is used to say who you seek something from.