zhuīqiú: 追求 - To Pursue, To Seek, To Court

• Keywords: 追求, zhuiqiu, pursue in Chinese, seek in Chinese, chase a dream in Chinese, court someone in Chinese, Chinese word for pursue, 追求 meaning, what does zhuiqiu mean, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 追求 (zhuīqiú), a powerful Chinese verb that means “to pursue,” “to seek,” or “to chase after.” This essential term is used not only for ambitious goals like dreams, happiness, and truth, but also specifically for the romantic act of courting or wooing someone. Understanding zhuīqiú reveals deep cultural insights into Chinese values of determination, hard work, and traditional romance.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhuīqiú
• Part of Speech: Verb (can occasionally function as a noun)
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To pursue, seek, or actively strive for a goal, ideal, or person.
• In a Nutshell: 追求 (zhuīqiú) is about the active chase. It's not just “wanting” something; it's the dedicated, long-term effort you put into getting it. Think of it as the difference between wishing for happiness and actively building a happy life, or the difference between having a crush and actively trying to win someone's heart. It implies proactivity, determination, and a clear objective.

• 追 (zhuī): This character means “to chase” or “to follow.” The radical 辶 (chuò) on the bottom is related to walking or movement, giving a sense of action and pursuit.
• 求 (qiú): This character means “to seek,” “to request,” or “to beg for.” It depicts a person reaching out, searching for something they desire.
• When combined, 追求 (zhuīqiú) literally means “to chase and seek.” This creates a powerful image of actively and intentionally moving towards a desired outcome, whether it's an abstract ideal like freedom or a tangible relationship with another person.

In Chinese culture, 追求 carries a weight of seriousness and earnestness. It is deeply connected to the values of perseverance (坚持 jiānchí) and diligence (勤奋 qínfèn). To say you are pursuing a dream (追求梦想 zhuīqiú mèngxiǎng) is a noble declaration that implies you are willing to endure hardship and sacrifice for your goal. A key cultural difference emerges in the context of romance. While in the West, “dating” can be a casual, exploratory process, 追求 describes a more traditional and intentional form of courtship. Typically, it implies that one person (traditionally the man) is the active “pursuer,” making concerted efforts to win the other's affection through gestures, invitations, and displays of sincerity. This is different from two people mutually “seeing where things go.” The act of 追求 establishes a clear dynamic of courtship that is widely understood in Chinese society.

追求 is a common and versatile word used in various aspects of modern life.

• Pursuing Ideals and Life Goals: This is its most common and positive usage. People 追求 happiness (幸福), dreams (梦想), truth (真理), freedom (自由), and perfection (完美). It's used in motivational speeches, academic discussions, and personal conversations about life aspirations.
• Romantic Pursuits: This is a crucial meaning for any learner. Saying “他在追求我 (tā zài zhuīqiú wǒ)” means “He is courting/pursuing me.” It clearly states that he is actively trying to start a romantic relationship. It's more direct than just saying he likes you.
• Materialistic Pursuits: The word can also be used for more worldly goals, like pursuing fame and fortune (追求名利 zhuīqiú mínglì). In this context, the connotation can sometimes be slightly negative or critical, suggesting that a person is shallow or overly focused on material wealth.

• Example 1:
  • 每个人都应该勇敢地追求自己的梦想。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge rén dōu yīnggāi yǒnggǎn de zhuīqiú zìjǐ de mèngxiǎng.
  • English: Everyone should bravely pursue their own dreams.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, positive example of using 追求 for life aspirations. The adverb 地 (de) connects the adjective “bravely” (勇敢 yǒnggǎn) to the verb 追求.
• Example 2:
  • 小王最近在追求我们公司新来的同事。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎo Wáng zuìjìn zài zhuīqiú wǒmen gōngsī xīn lái de tóngshì.
  • English: Xiao Wang has recently been pursuing our company's new colleague.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the common use of 追求 for romantic courtship in a workplace context. The structure “在 + verb” indicates an ongoing action.
• Example 3:
  • 他一生都在追求真理和知识。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīshēng dōu zài zhuīqiú zhēnlǐ hé zhīshi.
  • English: He has spent his whole life pursuing truth and knowledge.
  • Analysis: A formal and noble usage, often used to describe scholars, scientists, or philosophers.
• Example 4:
  • 她追求的是一种简单而平静的生活。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhuīqiú de shì yī zhǒng jiǎndān ér píngjìng de shēnghuó.
  • English: What she pursues is a simple and peaceful life.
  • Analysis: The structure “verb + 的 (de)” turns the action of “pursuing” into a noun phrase (“that which is pursued”). This is a very common sentence pattern in Chinese.
• Example 5:
  • 我觉得他不爱我，他只是在追求一种新鲜感。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ juéde tā bù ài wǒ, tā zhǐshì zài zhuīqiú yī zhǒng xīnxiāngǎn.
  • English: I don't think he loves me; he's just chasing a feeling of novelty.
  • Analysis: This example shows 追求 can be used for less concrete things, like a “feeling” or “sensation” (新鲜感 xīnxiāngǎn).
• Example 6:
  • 为了追求更高的薪水，他决定换工作。
  • Pinyin: Wèile zhuīqiú gèng gāo de xīnshuǐ, tā juédìng huàn gōngzuò.
  • English: In order to pursue a higher salary, he decided to change jobs.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a practical, career-oriented use of the term. “为了 (wèile)” means “in order to.”
• Example 7:
  • 这位导演追求画面的极致完美。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi dǎoyǎn zhuīqiú huàmiàn de jízhì wánměi.
  • English: This director pursues the ultimate perfection of the screen image.
  • Analysis: Highlights its use in creative fields, where one strives for an ideal standard.
• Example 8:
  • 他追求了她很久，但最后还是被拒绝了。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhuīqiú le tā hěn jiǔ, dàn zuìhòu háishì bèi jùjué le.
  • English: He pursued her for a long time, but was ultimately rejected.
  • Analysis: A common narrative in romance. “被 (bèi)” introduces a passive voice, “was rejected.”
• Example 9:
  • 不要盲目地追求时尚潮流。
  • Pinyin: Bùyào mángmù de zhuīqiú shíshàng cháoliú.
  • English: Don't blindly chase fashion trends.
  • Analysis: A piece of advice, using 追求 in the context of social trends. “盲目地 (mángmù de)” means “blindly.”
• Example 10:
  • 他对财富的追求永无止境。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì cáifù de zhuīqiú yǒng wú zhǐjìng.
  • English: His pursuit of wealth is endless.
  • Analysis: Here, 追求 is used as a noun (“the pursuit”). “对 (duì)…的追求” is a common structure meaning “the pursuit of…”.

• `追求` (zhuīqiú) vs. `找` (zhǎo): A critical distinction. `找` means “to look for” a specific, often lost, object or person. You `找` your keys, you `找` a friend in a crowd. You `追求` an abstract concept (happiness) or a romantic interest.
  • Incorrect: 我在追求我的手机。(Wǒ zài zhuīqiú wǒ de shǒujī.) → This sounds like you are trying to have a romantic relationship with your phone.
  • Correct: 我在找我的手机。(Wǒ zài zhǎo wǒ de shǒujī.) - I'm looking for my phone.
• `追求` (zhuīqiú) vs. `喜欢` (xǐhuān): `喜欢` is a feeling (“to like”), while `追求` is an action (“to pursue”). You can secretly `喜欢` someone without them knowing, but if you `追求` them, you are actively trying to court them. The action follows the feeling.
• Connotation in Romance: Be aware that saying you are going to `追求` someone is a strong statement of intent. It's not casual. It implies you are serious about trying to start a relationship.

• 梦想 (mèngxiǎng) - Dream; the most common abstract goal that one 追求.
• 目标 (mùbiāo) - Goal, target; a more concrete objective to 追求, like a sales target or fitness goal.
• 理想 (lǐxiǎng) - Ideal; a high-level, often philosophical or moral, principle to 追求.
• 奋斗 (fèndòu) - To strive, to struggle for; the hard work and effort that is essential for any serious 追求.
• 寻找 (xúnzhǎo) - To seek, to look for. More formal than `找` and can be used for abstract things (e.g., seeking an answer), but it implies finding something that already exists, whereas 追求 can be about achieving a state that doesn't exist yet.
• 向往 (xiàngwǎng) - To yearn for, to look forward to. This is the feeling of desire that often motivates the action of 追求.
• 追 (zhuī) - To chase. The first character of 追求, it can be used alone for a physical chase (e.g., 追小偷 zhuī xiǎotōu - to chase a thief).
• 谈恋爱 (tán liàn'ài) - To be in a relationship, to date. This is what happens after a successful 追求.