Definitions

xùn (noun) news; information
xùn (verb) to question; to interrogate
xùn (adjective) rapid; speedy; fast

Etymology

Simplified form of . Depicts a mouth () interrogating a captured prisoner of war (). also represents the sound. The (mouth) component was later reanalyzed as (speech).

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The traditional character 訊 is composed of the semantic component 言 (speech, language) and the phonetic component 卂, which historically suggested swift movement. Its original core meaning was "to interrogate" or "to question", specifically within a legal or investigative context, which aligns with the use of speech to swiftly ascertain facts. Over time, the meaning broadened from the act of inquiring to also encompass the result of that inquiry, leading to its common contemporary meanings of "message", "news", or "information". The simplified form 讯 retains the phonetic hint of 卂 but replaces the semantic component 言 with 讠, the simplified radical for speech, thus maintaining the character's conceptual link to verbal communication while streamlining its written form.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我收到了他的息。

Wǒ shōu dào le tā de xùnxī.

I received his message.

技术发展很快。

Tōngxùn jìshù fāzhǎn hěn kuài.

Communication technology is developing quickly.

警方正在问嫌疑人。

Jǐngfāng zhèngzài xùnwèn xiányírén.

The police are interrogating the suspect.

手机号在这里很弱。

Shǒujī xùnhào zài zhèlǐ hěn ruò.

The mobile phone signal is very weak here.

我们期待他的音

Wǒmen qīdài tā de yīnxùn.

We look forward to hearing from him.

法庭将对案件进行审

Fǎtíng jiāng duì ànjiàn jìnxíng shěnxùn.

The court will conduct a trial for the case.

通过卫星通,信息传递更迅速。

Tōngguò wèixīng tōngxùn, xìnxī chuándì gèng xùnsù.

Through satellite communication, information transmission is faster.

在紧急情况下,保持通畅通至关重要。

Zài jǐnjí qíngkuàng xià, bǎochí tōngxùn chàngtōng zhì guān zhòngyào.

In emergency situations, maintaining unobstructed communication is crucial.