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1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 探 has 11 strokes and the on-reading たん. 探す (さがす) and 探る (さぐる) have different kun-readings and verb endings.
• Basic usage: 探す concerns looking for a desired object; 探る concerns examining a situation or investigating its background.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Looking for something and examining it
  • 探す covers looking for a lost object such as なくした鍵, but also looking for a room one will need, as in 部屋を探している.
  • 足元を探りながら means while checking the ground underfoot. 事件の背景を探った describes investigating a case's background.