‘搜身’ is a compound verb meaning to physically search a person’s body—typically by patting down their outer clothing—to check for hidden objects such as weapons, contraband, or prohibited items. The first character 搜 (sōu) means ‘to search’ or ‘to scour,’ and the second character 身 (shēn) means ‘body’ or ‘person.’ Together, they literally convey ‘searching the body.’ This term is commonly used in security, law enforcement, and border control contexts.

It implies a formal, authorized procedure rather than casual touching—it carries connotations of authority, procedure, and sometimes intrusion. While neutral in dictionary definition, tone and context heavily influence perception: it may sound routine in airport security but tense or confrontational in a protest or detention setting. It is not used for medical examinations or personal care; those involve different vocabulary like 检查身体 (jiǎnchá shēntǐ).