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质询 (zhì xún) — to formally question (in a legislative or official setting), to interpellate; to demand an explanation (from an authority)

Definition

Formal/official verb meaning to question an authority (e.g. a minister, spokesperson) and demand an explanation, as in a legislative or press setting. Much more formal than 问 (wèn), which is everyday 'to ask'.

verb
to formally question (in a legislative or official setting)to interpellateto demand an explanation (from an authority)

Examples

  • 质询。
    Dài biǎo zài huì yì shàng jiù yù suàn wèn tí duì bù zhǎng tí chū le zhì xún.
    The representative raised an interpellation to the minister over budget issues at the meeting.
  • 质询。
    Jì zhě jiù zhè cì shì jiàn xiàng fā yán rén zhì xún.
    The journalist questioned the spokesperson about this incident.
  • 质询。
    Zhè cì zhì xún de duì xiàng shì jiào yù zhèng cè de xiāng guān fù zé rén.
    The subject of this inquiry was the person responsible for education policy.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

质zhìquestion
询xúninquire

质 carries a sense of questioning or verifying, and 询 means to inquire; together they denote formal questioning.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 質; 质 is its simplified writing.

  • 斦斦yín
  • 貝貝bèi

The traditional form 質 is made up of 貝 and 斦; this describes 質, not the simplified 质.

Open 质 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 詢; 询 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
旬
旬xún詢xún
Same sound today

The traditional form 詢 pairs 言 (speech) with 旬, which gives its sound; the simplified 询 is a shorthand.

Open 询 →
Appears in
Government & Politics

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