What does chercher in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word chercher in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use chercher in French.

The word chercher in French means look for, look, look up, look for, try to remember, try to remember, think, try to do, be looking for trouble, look for each other, look for one another, try to find yourself, pick up, pick up, get, fetch, get, It's like looking for a needle in a haystack, feel for, grope for, seek asylum, pick a fight with , pick a quarrel with, pick a fight with , pick a quarrel with, nitpick, look for, look for a fight, look for trouble, look for the cause of , look for the reason behind, nitpick, look for trouble, ask for trouble, invite trouble, complicate things, pick a fight with , pick a quarrel with, pick a fight with , pick a quarrel with, look for space, look for a place, struggle to find words, look for the way, look for support, ask for support, look for accommodation, look for a job, seek employment, Go figure!, Look no further!, don't push me, come to pick up, without trying to understand, without trying to understand, without making an effort to understand, Fetch!, come and pick up, come and fetch, come pick up, come fetch. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word chercher

look for

verbe transitif (tenter de retrouver [qch] d'égaré)

Je cherche mes clés partout.
ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. I'm seeking new experiences so I'm going to try skydiving.

look

verbe intransitif (fouiller un endroit)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Cherche dans ton armoire.
ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. Your wardrobe's such a mess. You'll need to search it thoroughly to find that scarf.

look up

verbe transitif (obtenir un renseignement)

(phrasal verb, transitive, inseparable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, not divisible--for example,"go with" [=combine nicely]: "Those red shoes don't go with my dress." NOT [S]"Those red shoes don't go my dress with."[/S])
Cherche son numéro de téléphone dans l'annuaire !
Look his phone number up in the book!

look for

verbe transitif (avoir besoin)

(phrasal verb, transitive, inseparable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, not divisible--for example,"go with" [=combine nicely]: "Those red shoes don't go with my dress." NOT [S]"Those red shoes don't go my dress with."[/S])
Je cherche une secrétaire qui chercherait du travail.
I'm looking for a secretary who might be on the lookout for work.

try to remember

verbe transitif (se souvenir)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cherche le nom de nos voisins de vacances.
Try to remember the name of our neighbours on holiday.

try to remember

verbe intransitif (faire appel à sa mémoire)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cherche encore, tu finiras bien par trouver.
Try again to remember; you'll get there in the end.

think

verbe intransitif (réfléchir)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Cherche et tu trouveras la solution du problème.
Think and you'll find the answer to the problem.

try to do

locution verbale (tout faire pour obtenir [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ma cousine cherche toujours à séduire les garçons.
My cousin is always trying to charm the boys.

be looking for trouble

verbe transitif (familier (provoquer [qqn]) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Depuis le temps qu'il me cherche, il va me trouver.
He's spoiling for a fight if he's looking for me.

look for each other, look for one another

verbe pronominal (essayer de se rencontrer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Voilà deux âmes en peine qui se cherchent.
There are two anguished souls who are looking for each other (or: one another).

try to find yourself

verbe pronominal (tenter de trouver sa voie) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Elle ne sait pas encore ce qu'elle va étudier, elle se cherche.
She doesn't yet know what she's going to study. She's trying to find herself.

pick up

verbe transitif (passer prendre) (person)

(phrasal verb, transitive, separable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, divisible--for example, "call off" [=cancel], "call the game off," "call off the game.")
Chéri, n'oublie pas d'aller chercher les enfants à l'école ce soir !
Darling, do not forget to pick the kids up from school this evening!

pick up

verbe transitif (aller quelque part pour rapporter [qch]) (item)

(phrasal verb, transitive, separable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, divisible--for example, "call off" [=cancel], "call the game off," "call off the game.")
Ma mère est allée chercher des citrons à l'épicerie du coin : elle revient tout de suite.
My mum has gone to pick some lemons up from the corner shop, she will be back shortly.

get

locution verbale (familier (trouver : des idées,...) (idea: informal)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Mais où vas-tu chercher des idées aussi folles ?
I mean where do you get such crazy ideas?

fetch

locution verbale (familier (coûter) (price)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Une voiture de sport comme ça, ça peut aller chercher dans les 200 000 €.
That type of sports car can fetch up to two hundred thousand euros.

get

locution verbale (familier (atteindre une durée de prison) (prison sentence: informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Vol avec violence, ça peut aller chercher dans les 5 ans, ça !
Aggravated robbery; that could get you five years!

It's like looking for a needle in a haystack

(expression d'une grande difficulté) (figurative)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Cela va nous prendre une éternité : autant chercher une aiguille dans une botte de foin !
This is going to take us forever; it's like looking for a needle in a haystack!

feel for, grope for

(chercher sans voir)

Il cherchait l'interrupteur à tâtons.

seek asylum

locution verbale (chercher refuge)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Comme son mari la battait, cette femme a cherché asile chez une amie.

pick a fight with , pick a quarrel with

locution verbale (chercher querelle à [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

pick a fight with , pick a quarrel with

(familier (vouloir se quereller avec [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

nitpick

(familier (vouloir se quereller avec [qqn]) (informal)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

look for

locution verbale (chercher avec les yeux)

look for a fight, look for trouble

locution verbale (chercher à se bagarrer) (colloquial)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

look for the cause of , look for the reason behind

locution verbale (chercher la raison de)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Luc cherche la cause du départ de son fils.

nitpick

locution verbale (familier, péjoratif (fouiller les détails) (figurative, informal)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

look for trouble, ask for trouble

locution verbale (adopter une attitude problématique) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

invite trouble

locution verbale (attiser les ennuis)

complicate things

locution verbale (compliquer [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

pick a fight with , pick a quarrel with

locution verbale (familier (chercher des ennuis)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cette femme cherche noise à tous ses voisins.

pick a fight with , pick a quarrel with

locution verbale (chercher la bagarre)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
C'est un garçon bagarreur qui cherche querelle à tout le monde pour un oui ou pour un non.

look for space, look for a place

locution verbale (chercher sa position sociale)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

struggle to find words

locution verbale (ne pas arriver à s'exprimer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

look for the way

locution verbale (chercher le chemin à suivre)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

look for support, ask for support

locution verbale (chercher du soutien, de l'aide)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Dans ce moment difficile de sa vie Paul cherche appui auprès de son meilleur ami.

look for accommodation

locution verbale (avoir besoin d'une habitation)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Paul cherche un logement dans la ville où il vient de trouver un travail.

look for a job, seek employment

locution verbale (chercher un emploi)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Go figure!

(familier (C'est comme ça !)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")

Look no further!

(familier (C'est la bonne explication !)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")

don't push me

(ne m'énervez pas !) (figurative, informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Je suis à cran en ce moment, il ne faut pas me chercher !

come to pick up

locution verbale (aller récupérer [qch/qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
I'm going to pick Adam up from the station.

without trying to understand

locution adverbiale (sans écouter les arguments)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
L'instituteur a puni les deux élèves sans chercher à comprendre.

without trying to understand, without making an effort to understand

locution adverbiale (sans le sens des nuances)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Le chef a tranché dans le vif sans chercher à comprendre.

Fetch!

interjection (chien : commandement de ramener [qch]) (to a dog)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")

come and pick up, come and fetch

locution verbale (aller récupérer [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Je viens chercher un colis déposé dans votre boutique relais.

come pick up, come fetch

locution verbale (aller chercher [qqn]) (US)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ma mère viendra chercher mon fils à l'école ce soir.

Let's learn French

So now that you know more about the meaning of chercher in French, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in French.

Do you know about French

French (le français) is a Romance language. Like Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, it comes from popular Latin, once used in the Roman Empire. A French-speaking person or country can be called a "Francophone". French is the official language in 29 countries. French is the fourth most spoken native language in the European Union. French ranks third in the EU, after English and German, and is the second most widely taught language after English. The majority of the world's French-speaking population lives in Africa, with about 141 million Africans from 34 countries and territories who can speak French as a first or second language. French is the second most widely spoken language in Canada, after English, and both are official languages at the federal level. It is the first language of 9.5 million people or 29% and the second language of 2.07 million people or 6% of the entire population of Canada. In contrast to other continents, French has no popularity in Asia. Currently, no country in Asia recognizes French as an official language.