咨询

• Pinyin: zī xún
• Hanzi breakdown: 咨 = 口 (mouth) + 次 (phonetic); 询 = 讠(speech) + 旬 (phonetic)

Meaning

To consult; to seek advice; consultation; advisory services.

Used for seeking professional advice or information from experts, whether in business, legal, medical, or other professional contexts. As a noun, refers to consulting services or the consultation industry. Very common in business Chinese.

Examples

1. 如果你对法律问题有疑问，建议先咨询一下专业律师再做决定。 If you have questions about legal matters, I suggest consulting a professional lawyer before making a decision.
2. 这家公司提供人力资源咨询服务，帮助企业优化员工管理。 This company provides human resources consulting services, helping businesses optimize employee management.
3. 我昨天去医院咨询了关于手术的风险和恢复时间等相关问题。 Yesterday I went to the hospital to consult about surgical risks and recovery time.

Usage Guide

Context: business, professional services, medical

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 我想咨询一下贷款的事。(I'd like to inquire about loans.)
• 请拨打咨询热线。(Please call the consultation hotline.)

Don't Say

• 我想咨询你周末有空吗。(Too formal — just ask 你周末有空吗 for casual questions)

Origin & History

Compound of 咨 (to consult, to inquire) and 询 (to ask, to inquire). Both characters contain elements related to speech and questioning.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal