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讯问 (xùn wèn) — to interrogate (in a legal or official context); to question or inquire about (formally)

Definition

讯问 is a formal verb meaning to question or interrogate, typically used in legal or official settings (police, courts). It implies a more authoritative, official inquiry than casual 问.

verb
to interrogate (in a legal or official context)to question or inquire about (formally)

Examples

  • 讯问。
    Jǐng chá zhèng zài xùn wèn fàn zuì xián yí rén.
    The police are interrogating the criminal suspect.
  • 讯问。
    Fǎ guān duì zhèng rén jìn xíng le xùn wèn.
    The judge conducted an interrogation of the witness.
  • 讯问。
    Tā xiàng wǒ xùn wèn le shì qing de jīng guò.
    He asked me about the details of the incident.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

讯xùnquestion
问wènask

讯 question and 问 ask combine to mean formally interrogate.

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 訊; 讯 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
卂
卂xùn訊xùn
Same sound today

The traditional form 訊 combines 言 (words) with 卂 as a sound part; the simplified 讯 is a shorthand.

Open 讯 →

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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