How to Write 找 (zhǎo) — Meaning “to look for; to seek”

Imagine you are looking for a lost spear (戈) in tall grass, so you use your hand (扌) to push the plants aside. The hand radical on the left and the spear on the right visually show 'searching with your hand'.

Write the hand radical (扌) first: horizontal, vertical hook, then lift. Next write the right part (戈): horizontal stroke, slanted hook, left-falling stroke, and finally the dot. A common mistake is making the right side too wide; keep it narrow and balanced.

找 has the right part 戈 (spear) and means 'to look for'. 扑 has the right part 卜 (divination) and means 'to pounce' or 'to slap'. Visually, 找's right side has a diagonal hook and a dot, while 扑's right side is simpler with a vertical stroke. Their meanings are completely different.

找 is very common for everyday searching, such as 找人 (zhǎo rén, to look for someone) or 找东西 (zhǎo dōngxi, to look for something). When shopping, 找钱 (zhǎo qián) means 'to give change' – a practical word you will hear at stores.

Common words containing 找 include: 找钱 (zhǎo qián) — to give change (after a purchase); 找人 (zhǎo rén) — to look for someone; 找到 (zhǎo dào) — to find; found.