探求(たんきゅう)

たんきゅう
noun / suru verb
quest, pursuit, inquiry
1. quest, pursuit, inquiry
The deep, sustained pursuit of truth, knowledge, or meaning. Implies intellectual or philosophical seeking, rather than a simple search for physical objects.
真理(しんり)を探求(たんきゅう)する。
To pursue the truth.
科学者(かがくしゃ)は未知(みち)の世界(せかい)を探求(たんきゅう)し続(つづ)けている。
Scientists continue to explore the unknown world.
人生(じんせい)の意味(いみ)を探求(たんきゅう)することは、古代(こだい)から哲学(てつがく)の中心的(ちゅうしんてき)なテーマであった。
The quest for the meaning of life has been a central theme of philosophy since ancient times.

USAGE:
Used as both a noun and a suru verb. Carries an elevated, intellectual tone. The object of 探求(たんきゅう) is typically something abstract — truth, knowledge, beauty, meaning — rather than concrete things. Common in academic, philosophical, and literary writing.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 真理(しんり)を探求(たんきゅう)する: to pursue truth
  • 知識(ちしき)の探求(たんきゅう): pursuit of knowledge
  • 探求心(たんきゅうしん): spirit of inquiry, intellectual curiosity

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 探索(たんさく): search, exploration (more concrete, physical searching)
  • 追求(ついきゅう): pursuit (of goals, ideals, profit — broader scope)
  • 研究(けんきゅう): research (systematic, academic study)
general
Added 2026.2.22 23:24
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