<p>检索 is more formal and often used with an abstract object such as information, or abstract information of some objects, such as books (you don't really 检索 the physical existence of the book, instead you 检索 the information of the book, like title, author etc). You can see it as a query.</p>

<p>找 is simply "to look for". And it's not very formal since modern Chinese prefers words with at least two characters unless it's proper noun, or in existing collocations.</p>

<p>Here are some examples:</p>

<p>You can 检索:</p>

<ul>
<li>Data</li>
<li>Books</li>
<li>Newspaper</li>
<li>Mail</li>
<li>Ads</li>
</ul>

<p>You can't 检索:</p>

<ul>
<li>Desks</li>
<li>Cars</li>
<li>Coffee</li>
</ul>

<p>Unless you are trying to 检索 their information.</p>

<p>But colloquially you can 找 information.</p>

<p>So in summary:
You 检索 to 找 (look for) something by examine their information, e.g. the title of a book, the manufacture of a product, the subject of an article.</p>

<p>You 找 simple to look for or seek something. You can see 检索 as a subset of 找</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-01T03:57:47.947Z
2014-08-01T07:41:52.640Z
2014-08-01T07:41:52.640Z
user1228520
<p>In chinese, 检索 always use with <strong>Article</strong>, <strong>Periodicals</strong> and <strong>library</strong>. And sometime we located the word '检索' after them,like <strong>期刊检索</strong>,<strong>图书检索</strong>,<strong>论文检索</strong>.</p>

<p><strong>In normal life</strong> when we want to <strong>find something</strong>, We use 找,For example, <strong>找东西</strong>,<strong>找朋友</strong>,<strong>找某个地方</strong> </p>

<p>BTW, <strong>找例句</strong> :)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-01T02:36:29.380Z
2014-08-01T05:36:53.560Z
2014-08-01T05:36:53.560Z
Tony Chen
<p>As @Stan said, 檢索 is usually used with database(資料庫) or library catalog(圖書目錄).</p>

<p>You must have some reference (a catalog, or a list...etc) to be able to 檢索. It's not only formal but more restricted. Whereas 找 can be used very widely.</p>

<p>For example one would say "在資料庫裡檢索資料", "在圖書目錄裡檢索資料", and "在網路上找資料", "在圖書館裡找資料", ...etc.</p>

<p>So you can search (or find) (找) for information  in any suitable places (or under certain conditions). But you would look up (檢索) for information only in restricted places like database.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-01T02:25:38.410Z
2014-08-01T02:25:38.410Z
Marson Mao
<p>I'm interested in what the exact difference is in usage between 检索 and 找 －  I know that we can saying 检索资料  but I'm wondering if we could "检索" something that is a bit more concrete.</p>

<p>For example, could I say “检索例句“ or would only 找 work in this context? </p>

<p>Also, is  检索 too formal to use in spoken conversation?  </p>

<p>Thanks again for all of your help guys! </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-31T16:53:07.593Z
Yes 检索 is a little too formal in spoken conversation, and sounds like a jargon -- its object is usually a *database* or a *library catalog*.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-01T02:13:36.550Z
i think comment of @Stan could be an answer :p
Marson Mao
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-02T15:12:28.737Z
檢索 is too formal for normal usage in daily conversations. We normally use 找 in Mandarin (or 搵 in Cantonese)
Derek 朕會功夫
<grammar><comparison>
Difference between 检索 and 找
# Difference between 检索 and 找

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-07-31)

I'm interested in what the exact difference is in usage between 检索 and 找 － I know that we can saying 检索资料 but I'm wondering if we could "检索" something that is a bit more concrete.

For example, could I say “检索例句“ or would only 找 work in this context?

Also, is 检索 too formal to use in spoken conversation?

Thanks again for all of your help guys!

**Tags:** grammar, comparison

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Yes 检索 is a little too formal in spoken conversation, and sounds like a jargon -- its object is usually a *database* or a *library catalog*.  
> **username_2**: i think comment of @username_1 could be an answer :p  
> **username_3**: 檢索 is too formal for normal usage in daily conversations. We normally use 找 in Mandarin (or 搵 in Cantonese)  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-08-01. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

As @username_1 said, 檢索 is usually used with database(資料庫) or library catalog(圖書目錄).

You must have some reference (a catalog, or a list...etc) to be able to 檢索. It's not only formal but more restricted. Whereas 找 can be used very widely.

For example one would say "在資料庫裡檢索資料", "在圖書目錄裡檢索資料", and "在網路上找資料", "在圖書館裡找資料", ...etc.

So you can search (or find) (找) for information in any suitable places (or under certain conditions). But you would look up (檢索) for information only in restricted places like database.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2014-08-01. Score: 4

检索 is more formal and often used with an abstract object such as information, or abstract information of some objects, such as books (you don't really 检索 the physical existence of the book, instead you 检索 the information of the book, like title, author etc). You can see it as a query.

找 is simply "to look for". And it's not very formal since modern Chinese prefers words with at least two characters unless it's proper noun, or in existing collocations.

Here are some examples:

You can 检索:

* Data
* Books
* Newspaper
* Mail
* Ads

You can't 检索:

* Desks
* Cars
* Coffee

Unless you are trying to 检索 their information.

But colloquially you can 找 information.

So in summary:
You 检索 to 找 (look for) something by examine their information, e.g. the title of a book, the manufacture of a product, the subject of an article.

You 找 simple to look for or seek something. You can see 检索 as a subset of 找


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### Answer by username_5 on 2014-08-01. Score: 2

In chinese, 检索 always use with **Article**, **Periodicals** and **library**. And sometime we located the word '检索' after them,like **期刊检索**,**图书检索**,**论文检索**.

**In normal life** when we want to **find something**, We use 找,For example, **找东西**,**找朋友**,**找某个地方**

BTW, **找例句** :)


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