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查问 (chá wèn) — to question; to interrogate; to inquire about

Definition

A formal verb for 'to question / interrogate' someone closely, often in official or investigative contexts (police, reporters, authorities). Implies sustained, detailed questioning — stronger than asking casually.

verb
to questionto interrogateto inquire about

Examples

  • 查问。
    Jǐng chá zhèng zài chá wèn mù jī zhě.
    The police are questioning the witness.
  • 查问。
    Lǎo shī chá wèn tā wèi shén me chí dào.
    The teacher asked him why he was late.
  • 查问。
    Jì zhě duì zhè jiàn shì jìn xíng le xiáng xì chá wèn.
    The journalist conducted a detailed inquiry into this matter.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

查cháinvestigate
问wènask

“查” and “问” mean investigate and ask, together referring to questioning.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
且
且qiě查chá
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

查 pairs 木 (wood) with 且, which shows the sound. It originally meant a hawthorn tree or a wooden raft.

Open 查 →

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 問; 问 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
門
門mén問wèn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 問 combines 口 (mouth) with 門, which gives the sound; the simplified 问 is a later shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 问 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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