(1) locate意为“找出……位置;探出……处所”。
- He requested help from the librarian to locate the book he wanted.
他要求图书管理员帮忙找一本他想要的书。 - Can you locate Paris on the map?
你能在地图上找出巴黎的位置吗? - The captain located the ship's position on the chart.
船长在海图上找出船的位置。
(2) find为一般用词,意为“找到”。
- Have you found the key you lost?
你找到你丢失的钥匙了吗?
(3) ①look for意为“寻找”。
- I spent ages looking for her before I found her.
我花了很长时间寻找才找到她。
②如果知道某人或某物在哪里,要“取回、接回、找回他/它们”,不用look for而用fetch或get。
- I've got to go to the station at three o'clock to fetch Daniel.
我3点得去车站接丹尼尔。
(4) seek for意为“寻找,寻求”,作“寻找”用时,较look for意味强,且文气,通常接想得到的东西。(另见search条)
- He went from village to village, seeking for work.
他从一个村庄到另一个村庄,到处找工作。 - Who were these men, and for what were they seeking?
那些人是谁?他们在找什么?
(5) seek out意思是“找到”。
- She sought out her friend Sophia, who had a new suggestion.
她找到朋友索菲娅,给了她一条新建议。
(6) search for意为“努力寻找;求索”。
- Many people spend years searching for peace of mind, often with little success.
人们花费数年寻找心灵的平静,但往往成效不大。 - The villagers are helping to search the woods for the missing child.
村民们正在树林中搜寻,帮助寻找这个失踪的孩子。 - I have searched my mind for a reason, but can find none.
我在心中苦苦寻找,想找个理由,却找不到。