Meaning
找 is one of the most fundamental verbs in Mandarin, meaning to look for or to search for something or someone. It can also mean to find when you successfully locate what you're looking for. Additionally, it has a specialized meaning in commercial contexts where it means to give back change after a purchase.
Usage
Native speakers use 找 constantly in daily life for searching for objects, people, or information. When used in shopping contexts, 找钱 (zhǎo qián) or just 找 means to give change. The verb is typically followed directly by the object being sought, like 找人 (look for someone) or 找工作 (look for a job).
Examples
- 01我在找我的钥匙，你看见了吗？, ?I'm looking for my keys, have you seen them?
- 02这是一百块，请找我零钱。, .Here's 100 yuan, please give me change.
Common collocations
- 找工作to look for a job
- 找钱to give change
- 找人to look for someone
- 找麻烦to look for trouble
Antonyms
Origin
The character 找 combines the hand radical 扌with 戈 (weapon/halberd), originally suggesting the action of reaching or grasping for something with the hand.