询 meaning and stroke order
To ask about, to inquire into; to consult
How to write 询, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
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- 3
- 4
- 5
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- 8
Meaning of 询
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to ask about
- to inquire about
How 询 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Speech.
讠 gives the meaning and 旬 hints at the sound.
Radical: 讠 (words), shared by 144 characters on this site.
How to remember 询
询 combines the speech radical 讠 with 旬 (xún), which gives the sound. Think of using words (讠) to ask questions, and let 旬 remind you it is read xún.
询 rarely appears alone and is mostly used in more formal two-character words like 询问 (xúnwèn), 查询 (cháxún), and 咨询 (zīxún). You will see it often on signs, websites, and service counters. Example: 我想查询一下航班信息。(Wǒ xiǎng cháxún yíxià hángbān xìnxī.) I would like to check the flight information.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes confuse 询 with 旬 (xún, a ten-day period) or 殉 (xùn), since they share the same part on the right. Remember that only 询 has the speech radical 讠, because it is about asking.
Common words with 询
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
询 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 询
How many strokes are in 询?
询 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 询 mean?
询 (xún) means to ask about, to inquire into; to consult. A common word with it is 询问 (xúnwèn), meaning "to inquire; to ask about".
How do you pronounce 询?
询 is pronounced xún, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 询?
The radical of 询 is 讠, which carries the idea of "words". Dictionaries list 询 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 询?
The traditional form of 询 is 詢. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 询 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 询 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 询 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 问 (wèn) and 询问 (xúnwèn)?
问 is the everyday word for asking and works in almost any situation. 询问 is more formal and is used for official or polite inquiries, such as asking staff or authorities about something.
When should I use 咨询 (zīxún) instead of 查询 (cháxún)?
Use 咨询 when you seek advice or consult someone, like a lawyer or a help desk. Use 查询 when you look up or check information, like a bank balance or a delivery status.