寻 (xún) is a Chinese character meaning “to look for”. It is written from 彐 (snout radical; a three-stroke block closed on the right) and 寸 (cun; inch), one above the other, and takes 6 strokes.
Build the character for “to seek”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
StartLearn this character
Structure
彐 + 寸
Top–bottom structure
Structure from: 现代字形拆分 IDS ⿱彐寸，对照 hanzi-writer-data 笔画数核验（3+3=6）；繁体 尋 的上部在简化后并作彐，故上部标为 remnant
Memory aid
One hand reaching down from above (彐) and a measuring hand below (寸): two hands feeling their way over something until they find it.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
6 strokes
In real words
- 寻找xún zhǎoto look for; to search for寻 = xún
- 寻求xún qiúto seek; to pursue寻 = xún
- 寻衅xúnxìnto pick a quarrel; to look for trouble寻 = xún
- 寻觅xún mìto seek; to look for寻 = xún
Go deeper
All readings
to seek
to look for; to search; to seek
找；到处查看以求得到。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 寻找xún zhǎoto look for; to search for寻 = xún
- 寻求xún qiúto seek; to pursue寻 = xún
- 寻衅xúnxìnto pick a quarrel; to look for trouble寻 = xún
- 寻觅xún mìto seek; to look for寻 = xún
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 寻 mean?
寻 (xún) means to look for; to search; to seek.
How do you pronounce 寻?
It is pronounced xún.
What parts is 寻 made of?
彐 (snout radical; a three-stroke block closed on the right) and 寸 (cun; inch), one above the other. The recorded source is: 现代字形拆分 IDS ⿱彐寸，对照 hanzi-writer-data 笔画数核验（3+3=6）；繁体 尋 的上部在简化后并作彐，故上部标为 remnant. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 寻 have?
6. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 寻?
寸. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 寻?
Common ones are 寻找 and 寻求. The reading of 寻 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.