The word 顾问 is formed through a direct and logical combination of the meanings of its two component characters. The first character, 顾, carries the core idea of "to look back", "to consider", or "to attend to". The second character, 问, means "to ask" or "to inquire". When fused, they create the conceptual image of a person one looks to for answers, or whose counsel is sought when considering a matter, literally, one who is "looked-to for asking", which perfectly encapsulates the role of an advisor or consultant.