讯

訊

xùn

卂 + 讠

Definitions

xùn (noun) news; information

xùn (verb) to question; to interrogate

xùn (adjective) rapid; speedy; fast

Etymology

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

Semantic: 讠 Phonetic: 卂

About

讯 is the simplified form of 訊. Originally, the character depicted a mouth (口) interrogating a captured prisoner of war (卂), with 卂 also indicating the sound. The mouth component was later reanalyzed as the speech radical 讠 (simplified from 言). In its earliest use, 讯 meant formally questioning a captive, conducting a legal interrogation, or investigating through cross-examination. While these judicial and investigative senses remain in modern legal contexts, the meaning broadened to cover the transmission of messages, the dissemination of news, and communication signals in general.

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

我收到了他的讯息。

Wǒ shōu dào le tā de xùnxī.

I received his message.

通讯技术发展很快。

Tōngxùn jìshù fāzhǎn hěn kuài.

Communication technology is developing quickly.

警方正在讯问嫌疑人。

Jǐngfāng zhèngzài xùnwèn xiányírén.

The police are interrogating the suspect.

手机讯号在这里很弱。

Shǒujī xùnhào zài zhèlǐ hěn ruò.

The mobile phone signal is very weak here.

我们期待他的音讯。

Wǒmen qīdài tā de yīnxùn.

We look forward to hearing from him.

法庭将对案件进行审讯。

Fǎtíng jiāng duì ànjiàn jìnxíng shěnxùn.

The court will conduct a trial for the case.

通过卫星通讯，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，保持通讯畅通至关重要。

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

In emergency situations, maintaining unobstructed communication is crucial.

Related Characters

Component: 卂

Component: 讠

Example Words