征询 (zhēng xún) — to consult; to solicit (opinions or advice)

Definition

A formal verb meaning to consult or solicit opinions, typically used by organizations, governments, or leaders seeking input. More formal than 询问 (inquire) and focuses on actively seeking views rather than just asking.

verb

to consultto solicit (opinions or advice)

Examples

征询。
Gōng sī zhèng zài guǎng fàn zhēng xún yuán gōng de yì jiàn.
The company is widely consulting employees' opinions.
征询。
Wǒ men xū yào zhēng xún zhuān jiā de jiàn yì zài jué dìng.
We need to consult experts' advice before deciding.
，征询。
Guān yú zhè cì gǎi gé, zhèng fǔ yǐ jīng zhēng xún le gè fāng yì jiàn.
Regarding this reform, the government has already solicited opinions from all sides.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

征zhēngsolicit/ask

询xúnconsult/ask

征 and 询 both express asking or seeking, yielding consult or gather opinions.

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 徵; 征 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 征 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (特征, 象征) it is 徵; in others it is 征.

The story is about the traditional form 徵. It originally meant punishment, from a picture of a knife with tooth-shaped protrusions on its back; later forms kept that sense.

Open 征 →

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

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 →