(sōu)

HSK 512 strokes

to search

Stroke order animation

Character information

Pinyin
sōu
Meaning
to search; variant of 搜
Strokes
12
HSK level
HSK 5
Traditional
Same

Origin & structure

Where comes from and how its parts fit together.

Phonetic-semantic compound⿰扌叟

In this compound, the meaning comes from (hand); supplies the sound.

One part carries the meaning, the other suggests the sound.

Made of

Parts are arranged left to right.

How to write step by step

12 strokes — each frame adds one stroke, shown in dark ink over the lighter ones.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12

Words with

Common words using — tap any character to open its stroke-order page.

sōusuǒ
HSK 5

to search (a place, a database, online etc); to search for (sth)

Open 搜索 page →
sōuxún
HSK 7-9

to search; to look for

Open 搜寻 page →
sōujiù
HSK 7-9

search and rescue

Open 搜救 page →
sōuchá
HSK 7-9

to search

Open 搜查 page →
sōu
HSK 7-9

to gather; to collect

Open 搜集 page →
qíngsōu

intelligence gathering

Open 情搜 page →
sōuguā

to rake in (money); to plunder; to milk people dry

Open 搜刮 page →

to crowdsource information about sb or sth (typically as a form of vigilantism resultin…

Open 人肉搜索 page →

Related characters

Ready to master 搜?

Trace 搜 stroke by stroke in the online practice tool, or turn it into a printable worksheet PDF with Tianzige practice grids, pinyin, and stroke-order breakdowns.