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盘问 (pán wèn) — to interrogate; to cross-examine

Definition

盘问 (pánwèn) is a formal verb meaning to interrogate or question someone closely, often one person at a time. Implies a sustained, detailed questioning — typically by police or officials — more thorough than a simple 问.

verb
to interrogateto cross-examine

Examples

  • 盘问。
    Jǐng chá pán wèn le tā sān gè xiǎo shí.
    The police interrogated him for three hours.
  • 盘问。
    Lǎo shī xiáng xì pán wèn le nà ge xué shēng.
    The teacher questioned that student in detail.
  • 盘问。
    Hǎi guān rén yuán pán wèn le nà ge huài rén.
    The customs officer interrogated that bad guy.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

盘páninvestigate
问wènask

盘 suggests thorough checking and 问 suggests asking, so together they mean a close interrogation.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 盤; 盘 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
皿皿mǐn
Sound part声符shēngfú
般
般bān盤pán
Same sound today

The traditional form 盤 pairs 般, which gives the sound, with 皿, a vessel. This note is about 盤, not the simplified 盘.

Open 盘 →

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
Crime & Police

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