How to Write 寻 (xún) — Meaning “To seek; to look for.”

Picture a hand (彐) holding a small ruler (寸) while searching for something. The ruler helps measure or guide the search, so remember: “A hand with a ruler to seek.” This image makes the character easy to recall.

Start with the top part: write a horizontal stroke that turns down (横折), then two straight horizontal lines. Below, write a short horizontal, then a vertical hook, and finally a dot. A common mistake is making the top 彐 too wide—keep it compact so the whole character stays balanced.

寻 (seek) has 彐 on top and 寸 (hand with dot) at the bottom. 归 (return) has a person radical (亻) on the left and 彐 on the right. 录 (record) shares the top 彐 but uses 水 (water) as the bottom part. Focus on the bottom: 寻 uses 寸, 录 uses 水, and 归 has a person on the side.

寻 appears in everyday words like 寻找 (to look for) and 寻求 (to seek or pursue). It is used in both formal and informal contexts, such as searching for a lost item or seeking advice. Culturally, the phrase "寻寻觅觅" from a famous poem captures the feeling of deeply searching for something lost or ideal.

Common words containing 寻 include: 寻找 (xún zhǎo) — To look for; to search.; 寻求 (xún qiú) — To seek; to pursue.; 寻常 (xún cháng) — Ordinary; common..