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问讯 (wèn xùn) — to inquire, to ask (for information); to send one's regards to, to greet

Definition

Literary or formal verb for 'to inquire' (问讯台 = information desk) and 'to send one's regards'. The palms-together greeting sense is specifically Buddhist/devotional usage.

verb
to inquireto ask (for information)to send one's regards toto greet

Examples

  • 问讯。
    Tā xiàng jǐng chá wèn xùn le qù huǒ chē zhàn de lù.
    He asked the police for directions to the train station.
  • 问讯。
    Qǐng dài wǒ wèn xùn nǐ de fù mǔ.
    Please send my regards to your parents.
  • ，，问讯。
    Zài sì miào lǐ, xìn tú men shuāng shǒu hé shí, hù xiāng wèn xùn.
    In the temple, the devotees pressed their palms together and greeted each other.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

问wènask
讯xùninquire

Both '问' and '讯' carry asking or inquiring, so the whole means to ask for information.

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 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 →

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 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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