索 (suǒ) - to search, to demand, to ask & rope, cable

索Tone 3

suǒ ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

索 · suǒ

to search, to demand, to ask;

rope, cable;

surname;

also means lonely, solitary

to search, to demand, to askrope, cablesurname

Usage highlights

search engineindexdemand paymentcable carrope bridgeransom

Synonyms

  • 搜— to search, to look for
  • 求— to seek, to request
  • 寻— to seek, to search

Antonyms

  • 给— to give, to provide
  • 予— to give, to grant

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I need to search for information (搜索信息).
  • He demanded payment (索要 payment).
  • This is an index (索引).
  • They live a simple and frugal life (生活简朴).

Collocations

  • search engine(搜索引擎)
  • index(索引)
  • demand payment(索要)
  • cable car(索道)
  • rope bridge(索桥)
  • ransom(赎金)

Idioms

  • Searching high and low(搜索枯肠)
  • Demanding with insistence(索求无度)
  • Lonely and desolate(离群索居)
  • Seeking the source by following the stream(沿流溯源)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted hands twisting rope fibers, representing the action of twisting and searching.
  • Used in legal and formal contexts to denote demanding or claiming something rightfully.
  • Appears in philosophical contexts representing the pursuit of truth or knowledge.

FAQ