v.
To search for something by holding a spear and sweeping an area. To look for, seek, or hunt for anything; to give back the correct change.
找
Common Usage & Traps
- 找猫 — look for a cat
- 找人 — look for someone
- 找钱 — give change (at a shop)
- 找到 — find
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看猫找猫看 means look at or see; if the cat is lost, you need 找.
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我找猫了我找到猫了找 is the search; use 找到 when the result is that you found it.
Why does 找钱 mean 'give change' at a shop?
In a shop, 找钱 usually means the cashier gives change back.
找 normally means 'look for', but 找钱 is a fixed shop phrase for returning change. If you are actually hunting for cash, say 我在找钱 with 在 to show an ongoing action. The word order and real-life context tell you which meaning is active in that moment.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Cashier gives change | 找你三块。 | 找钱你三块。 |
| Asking for change | 能找我五块吗？ | 能找钱我五块吗？ |
| Searching for cash | 我在找钱。 | 我找钱。 |
Why can you say 我在找书 but not 我在找到书?
找 is the search; 找到 is the result of finding something.
Use 找 for the action of looking, even when you may never succeed. Use 找到 when the search ends and the thing is finally found. So 我在找书 means I am still looking, while 我找到书了 means I found it.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Ongoing search | 我在找书。 | 我在找到书。 |
| Successful result | 我找到书了。 | 我找书了。 |
| Negative result | 我没找到书。 | 我没找书。 |
Why does the notice say 找猫 instead of 看猫?
找 means locate a lost cat; 看 just means look at or see.
If you write 看猫, you are only saying you want to look at a cat. A lost-cat notice needs 找, because the goal is to locate a missing pet. English 'look for' and 'look at' both use 'look', so this mix-up is common.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Lost-cat notice | 找猫 | 看猫 |
| Searching for a cat | 我想找一只猫。 | 我想看一只猫。 |
Appears in Stories 5 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
In this funny HSK 2 story, a boy asks his father for money every day. When his father tries to teach him a lesson, the boy's clever reply will make you laugh.
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钱学中喜欢吃，经常 找 爸妈要钱买东西吃。
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这一天，这个孩子 找 爸爸要钱：“爸爸，给我五块钱吧。
Enjoy this simple story about a patient and a mysterious apple. It shows how a small act of kindness can make someone feel at home, and you'll learn key words for feelings and daily life.
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马家友去二号房间 找 老先生。
Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.
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如有我可以帮你小忙的事，如 找 你自己找不着的书之类，我一定很愿意做，”从此，元真便成了博士胡之适的“我的朋友”了。
Read about a work trip to Beijing where a group of colleagues takes a very large airplane. Practice weather words and actions in a simple travel story.
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我 找 了一件衣服给他们。
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
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一天，白天明在学校大门口前边看见有人写了找猫的话：“我想 找 一只大白猫。
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白天明天天在学校里 找 大白猫。
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