商 shāng — commerce; consult
这条街上有很多商店。Zhè tiáo jiē shàng yǒu hěn duō shāng diàn.There are many shops on this street.
Common words: 商店 (shāng diàn)、商场 (shāng chǎng)、商量 (shāng liang)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "consult"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "consult", including 商 (shāng), 咨 (zī). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "consult" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 商 (shāng), 咨 (zī) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span shāng, zī — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 商 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 商 shāngcommerce; consultUseful words: 商店, 商场
- 咨 zīconsultUseful words: 咨询, 咨文
Common words for these 2 "consult" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 商 (shāng) — so "consult" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
商店shāng diànstore; shop商场shāng chǎngshopping mall; shopping center; department store; emporium商量shāng liangto consult; to talk over; to discuss咨询zī xúnto inquire; to consult; to seek advice from咨文zī wén(old) official communication (between government offices of equal rank); report delivered by the head of government on affairs of state咨商zī shāng(Tw) consultation (on policy, trade etc); (psychological) counseling
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "consult".
咨 zī — consult
有不懂的问题，可以向老师咨询。Yǒu bù dǒng de wèn tí, kě yǐ xiàng lǎo shī zī xún.If you have questions you do not understand, you can consult the teacher.
Common words: 咨询 (zī xún)、咨文 (zī wén)、咨商 (zī shāng)
All 2 characters
Open 商、咨 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.