询 (xún) — to inquire, to ask (bound form, used in compounds)
Definition
询 is a bound form, used only in compounds like 询问, 咨询, and 查询. It means 'to inquire' and sounds more formal than the everyday 问.
bound form
to inquireto ask (bound form, used in compounds)
Easily confused
- 绚xuànlook-alike(bound morpheme) gorgeous, splendid, brilliant (in compounds like 绚丽, 绚烂)
- 寻xúnsound-aliketo search, to look for, to seek
- 巡xúnsound-alike(bound form) to patrol; to make rounds; to tour
- 循xúnsound-alike(bound form) to follow, to abide by (used in compounds)
- 旬xúnsound-alike(classifier) ten-day period (one of three divisions of a month)
- 鲟xúnsound-alikesturgeon
Examples
- 。Qǐng xún wèn yí xià zhè ge wèn tí de dá àn.Please inquire about the answer to this question.
- 。Nǐ kě yǐ dào wǎng shàng chá xún yí xià.You can check online.
- 。Wǒ men xū yào zī xún zhuān jiā de yì jiàn.We need to consult the expert's opinion.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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.
The traditional form 詢 pairs 言 (speech) with 旬, which gives its sound; the simplified 询 is a shorthand.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.