探す
さがす
to search, to seek, to look for
Sagasu (探す) is a godan verb meaning "to search, to seek, to look for". Its polite form is 探します (sagashimasu), its te form is 探して (sagashite), its past form is 探した (sagashita), and its negative form is 探さない (sagasanai).
Godan verbJLPT N4
Sagasu (探す) conjugation quick reference
探す means "to search, to seek, to look for". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Sagasu example sentences
1) 私は鍵を探しています。
I am looking for the key.
2) 昨日、彼は失われた犬を探しました。
He searched for the lost dog yesterday.
3) 彼女は彼の電話番号を探さなかった。
She did not look for his phone number.
How to use Sagasu: grammar notes
•Use を after the thing you're looking for — for example, かぎを探しています means "I'm looking for my keys."
•探す is used when you're actively trying to find something you want or need, like a lost item or a new apartment.
•Don’t confuse 探す with 見つける (to find) — 探す is the action of looking, not the result of finding it.
•JLPT N4 level
Common phrases with Sagasu
仕事を探す
to look for a job
鍵を探しています
I'm looking for my keys
新しいアパートを探している
I'm looking for a new apartment
Sagasu (探す) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 探す | sagasu |
| Masu Form | 探します | sagashimasu |
| Te Form | 探して | sagashite |
| Past Form | 探した | sagashita |
| Negative Form | 探さない | sagasanai |
| Past Negative | 探さなかった | sagasanakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 探します | sagashimasu |
| Polite Past | 探しました | sagashimashita |
| Polite Negative | 探しません | sagashimasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 探しませんでした | sagashimasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 探せる | sagaseru |
| Passive Form | 探される | sagasareru |
| Causative Form | 探させる | sagasaseru |
| Causative Passive | 探さされる | sagasasareru |
| Volitional Form | 探そう | sagasou |
| Imperative Form | 探せ | sagase |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 探せば | sagaseba |
| Conditional (たら) | 探したら | sagashitara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 探している | sagashiteiru |
| Desire (たい) | 探したい | sagashitai |
| Prohibition | 探すな | sagasuna |