The word 询问 is formed by combining two characters, 询 and 问, which both independently carry the core meaning of "to ask" or "to inquire". This is a classic example of a coordinated or synonymous compound in Chinese, where two semantically similar components are joined to create a single, unified concept. The combination reinforces and slightly formalizes the meaning, resulting in a term that specifically denotes the act of making a formal inquiry or seeking information through questioning.