zī

谘

Character · Verb · NounTraditional諮

consult; inquire; official document

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 5 examples
1.

verb

to consult; to seek advice; to confer with

formal

Used in formal or official contexts. Often appears in disyllabic words like 咨询.

Rú如
yǒu有
yí疑
wèn问
 ，
qǐng请
zī咨
xún询
xiāng相
guān关
bù部
mén门
 。

If you have any questions, please consult the relevant departments.

Liǎng两
guó国
yuán元
shǒu首
jiù就
mào贸
yì易
wèn问
tí题
jìn进
xíng行
le了
shēn深
rù入
zī咨
shāng商
 。

The heads of state of the two countries held in-depth consultations on trade issues.

Show 1 more example
Cǐ此
shì事
shàng尚
xū需
zī咨
fǎng访
zhuān专
jiā家
yì意
jiàn见
 。

This matter still requires consulting expert opinions.

2.

noun

official document; dispatch (between equal government offices)

archaic

Historical usage. In the Qing dynasty and earlier, 咨 was a specific type of document used between departments of equal rank.

Cǐ此
zī咨
yóu由
lǐ礼
bù部
fā发
chū出
 ，
xíng行
wén文
gè各
shěng省
 。

This dispatch was issued by the Ministry of Rites and circulated to all provinces.

Píng平
xíng行
gōng公
wén文
yuē曰
zī咨
 ，
shàng上
xíng行
yuē曰
chéng呈
 。

Documents between equals are called 咨; those going upward are called 呈.