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谘 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
谘zīto consult, to confer with; recommendation, adviceg, 11 strokes, radical 讠, rank #49702, Very Hard
zī(zi1) T1
  1. 1to consult, to confer with; recommendation, advice
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March 24, 2026

谘(諮)zī(zi1)

The character 谘 (zī) means to consult or confer with someone, often in the context of seeking advice or recommendations. It is commonly used in professional settings, such as legal or medical consultations, where expert opinions are sought. The character conveys a sense of formal dialogue and exchange of ideas.

Strokes11Radical讠Frequency#49702DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the practice of consulting experts or seeking advice is deeply rooted, particularly in traditional practices such as feng shui or Chinese medicine. This character reflects the high value placed on obtaining knowledgeable guidance.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wise advisor sitting at a desk piled with papers, ready to consult with you. The left side of the character (言) represents speech, indicating communication, while the right side (咨) can be associated with the sound 'zī'—think of the advisor saying 'zī' as they confer with you.

Meanings of 谘

zī(zi1)
1to consult, to confer with; recommendation, advice
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 谘

谘Simplified
諮Traditional
11Strokes
讠Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 谘

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Podcast: 谘

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AI Study Notes for 谘

Quick Contrast

咨询 (zīxún) vs 顾问 (gùwèn) — choose 谘 (zī) for formal contexts of consultation, while 咨询 (zīxún) emphasizes the act of seeking advice, and 顾问 (gùwèn) refers specifically to a consultant or advisor.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 谘 with similar characters like 咨 (zī), which has a broader meaning of 'to inform' or 'to advise.' This character is more formal, so it's best suited for professional contexts. Additionally, remember that the tone is critical; using the wrong tone (e.g., zī instead of zī) can change meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 谘 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to other words related to consulting and advising, such as 建议 (jiànyì) meaning 'suggestion.' Focus on understanding its usage in specific contexts, especially in formal communication.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 谘 in informal contexts, thinking it can replace more casual terms for asking for advice. For example, saying '我想谘你' (Wǒ xiǎng zī nǐ) instead of a simpler '我想请教你' (Wǒ xiǎng qǐngjiào nǐ) can sound overly formal.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 谘

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Etymology of 谘

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

To discuss 讠 a plan 咨; 咨 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 谘

  1. 1The giveawayTo discuss 讠 a plan 咨; 咨 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 谘? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 谘?

Decomposition of 谘

IDS Structure⿰讠咨
谘Full Character
=
讠yan2
left
咨zi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 谘?

How to say to consult, to confer with; recommendation, advice in Chinese

“to consult, to confer with; recommendation, advice” in Chinese is谘zī

The character 谘 (zī) means to consult or confer with someone, often in the context of seeking advice or recommendations. It is commonly used in professional settings, such as legal or medical consultations, where expert opinions are sought. The character conveys a sense of formal dialogue and exchange of ideas.

When to use 谘

Be careful not to confuse 谘 with similar characters like 咨 (zī), which has a broader meaning of 'to inform' or 'to advise.' This character is more formal, so it's best suited for professional contexts. Additionally, remember that the tone is critical; using the wrong tone (e.g., zī instead of zī) can change meaning.

谘 or something close to it

咨询 (zīxún) vs 顾问 (gùwèn) — choose 谘 (zī) for formal contexts of consultation, while 咨询 (zīxún) emphasizes the act of seeking advice, and 顾问 (gùwèn) refers specifically to a consultant or advisor.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 谘 in informal contexts, thinking it can replace more casual terms for asking for advice. For example, saying '我想谘你' (Wǒ xiǎng zī nǐ) instead of a simpler '我想请教你' (Wǒ xiǎng qǐngjiào nǐ) can sound overly formal.

Write 谘

谘

Practice writing 谘 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 谘

Words Containing This Character1
谘zīto consult諮
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 谘 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 谘

You can say '我想谘询一个专业人士' (Wǒ xiǎng zīxún yīgè zhuānyè rénshì) meaning 'I would like to consult a professional.'

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