verb / noun HSK 5
Traditional 諮詢
to consult · to seek advice · consultation
Meaning
咨询 means to consult or seek advice from an expert or authority, or the consultation itself. It's commonly used in professional, medical, legal, and business contexts when someone needs specialized information or guidance.
Usage
This is a formal, professional term used in business, healthcare, and official settings. You'll see it on signs for consultation services (咨询处), customer service hotlines (咨询电话), and professional advisory services. It's more formal than simply 问 (to ask).
Examples
- 01如果您有任何问题，请拨打我们的咨询电话。, .If you have any questions, please call our consultation hotline.
- 02我想咨询一下关于签证申请的事情。.I'd like to consult about visa application matters.
Characters
Measure words
- 次一次咨询
Common collocations
- 咨询电话consultation hotline
- 咨询服务consultation service
- 咨询公司consulting company
- 法律咨询legal consultation
Origin
Both characters relate to speaking and inquiring. 咨 contains the mouth radical 口 and originally meant to consult or deliberate. 询 also contains 口 and means to ask or inquire, creating a compound that emphasizes formal consultation.