求教 (qiú jiào) — to ask for advice, to seek guidance (respectfully)

Definition

A formal, respectful verb meaning 'to seek guidance' — usually directed at a teacher, expert, or senior. The 求 frames the act as humble; 询问 is neutral, 请问 is polite in everyday speech.

verb
to ask for adviceto seek guidance (respectfully)

Examples

  • 求教。
    Wǒ jīng cháng xiàng lǎo shī qiú jiào.
    I often ask my teacher for advice.
  • 。
    Wǒ zuó tiān xiàng tā qiú guò yí cì jiào.
    Yesterday I asked him for advice once.
  • ，。
    Yù dào wèn tí, nǐ kě yǐ zhǎo tā qiú gè jiào.
    When you encounter a problem, you can ask him for advice.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

求qiúseek
教jiàoinstruction

求 means seek and 教 means instruction, together meaning to ask for advice.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

求 began as a drawing of a centipede.

Open 求 →

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
子子zǐchild
攵Written in full as攴pūteaching cane; stick that represents authority
Sound part声符shēngfú
爻
爻yáo教jiào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

教 uses 爻 for its sound and puts 子 (child) with 攵 (攴), a teaching cane, to show teaching a child.

Open 教 →

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