Meaning of 询问
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to inquire; to ask about
How to use 询问
询问 is a more formal word than 问 and is common in news, offices, and service settings. It often takes an object like 情况 (situation) or 意见 (opinion). Example: 他向工作人员询问了航班时间。(Tā xiàng gōngzuò rényuán xúnwèn le hángbān shíjiān.) He asked the staff about the flight time.
Both characters are about asking. 询 (xún) has the speech radical 讠 plus 旬, and 问 (wèn) shows a mouth 口 at a door 门, so picture someone speaking at a door to ask about something.
Common mistake: Learners often write 询 with the wrong right side, confusing 旬 with 句 (jù), so check that the inside is 日 and not 口. Also, both syllables are not the same tone: xún is second tone and wèn is fourth tone.
询问 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
询 xún · to ask about · 8 strokes
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- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
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- 8
问 wèn · to ask · 6 strokes
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- 6
Related words
Words that share a character with 询问.
| 请问 | qǐngwèn | Excuse me, may I ask...? |
| 问题 | wèntí | question; problem |
| 问路 | wènlù | to ask for directions; to ask the way (to some place) |
| 访问 | fǎngwèn | to visit; to call on (a person or place); (computing) to visit (a website); to access (a n |
| 提问 | tíwèn | to question; to quiz; to grill |
| 问候 | wènhòu | to give one's respects; to send a greeting |
| 疑问 | yíwèn | question; interrogation |
| 学问 | xuéwen | learning; knowledge; scholarship; a body of specialized knowledge (CL:門|门[men2]); (fig.) a |
| 顾问 | gùwèn | adviser; consultant |
| 查询 | cháxún | to check; to inquire |
| 慰问 | wèiwèn | to express sympathy, greetings, consolation etc |
| 咨询 | zīxún | to inquire; to consult; to seek advice from |
Questions about 询问
What does 询问 mean?
询问 (xúnwèn) means "to inquire; to ask about" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 询问?
询问 is made of 2 characters: 询 (8 strokes), 问 (6 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.
Is 询问 an HSK word?
Yes. 询问 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 询问 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 询问 is written 詢問.
What is the difference between 询问 and 问?
问 is the everyday word and works in almost any situation. 询问 sounds more formal and careful, so it fits written Chinese, official contexts, or polite inquiries. In casual chat with friends, 问 sounds more natural.
How do I say who I am asking with 询问?
Use 向 before the person: 向老师询问 (xiàng lǎoshī xúnwèn), to ask the teacher. You can also say 询问某人 directly, as in 询问他 (xúnwèn tā), but the 向 pattern is very common in formal writing.