咨询 (zī xún) — to consult, to seek advice (from a professional… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

咨询 is a formal verb for seeking professional advice or information (a doctor, lawyer, service desk). Stronger/more formal than 请教 ('ask for guidance'), and refers to paid or institutional help rather than 商量 ('discuss together').

verb

to consultto seek advice (from a professional or service)

Examples

咨询。
Wǒ xiǎng zī xún yí xià yī shēng.
I want to consult a doctor.
咨询。
Tā zī xún le kè fú guān yú tuì kuǎn de wèn tí.
He consulted customer service about the refund issue.
咨询。
Qǐng zī xún yí xià zhuān yè de lǜ shī.
Please consult a professional lawyer.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

咨zīask

Both 咨 and 询 carry the sense of asking or seeking advice, so together they mean consultation.

Characters in this word

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

次口咨

Meaning part形符xíngfú

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

次

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

咨 is built from 口, a mouth, and 次, which gives its sound.

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.

言旬詢

Meaning part形符xíngfú

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.

Appears in

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