HanziGuru.讯 · xùn
讯
xùn[xun4]Tone 4

news, information, to inquire, to interrogate

HSK 6
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訊
Guru Deep Dive

English · news, information, to inquire, to interrogate

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Topology:Left-right
Strokes:5
Writing Balance Rule: The left component (言) is narrower and compressed, while the right component (讯's right side, derived from 卂) is wider and dynamic, ensuring the whole character maintains visual equilibrium.
Simplification Logic: Derived from the traditional form 訊, where the phonetic right side 卂 was kept consistent in both simplified and traditional systems, but paired with the simplified speech radical 讠.
1. Meaning

news or information

to inquire or ask aboutto interrogate or question judicially
noun / verbliterary / formalBound morpheme#communication#justice#information
Sample Usage
  • 讯息
    xùnxī
    message / news
  • 审讯
    shěnxùn
    to interrogate / trial
2. Sound
/[ɕyn⁵¹]/Tone: 51
讯
xùnxun4
++
`(51)
=xùn
Initial Consonant
x
Type: Alveolo-Palatal Fricative
Sounds like: sh sound pronounced with the tongue blade near the hard palate
Unaspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: Hissing friction with lips stretched wide in a smile.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Blade of the tongue approaches the hard palate with lips slightly spread, creating a soft hiss.
Final Rhyme
un
Vowel Group: -v vowel group
Sounds like: ü (German ü / French u) + n
Note: Written as 'un', pronounced as rounded 'ün' [y].
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'ün'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Abbreviated Rhyme Rule: In Hanyu Pinyin, ü drops its umlaut dots after x, q, j, y, so 'un' here is actually 'ün'.
Tone
T4 (51)
4th Tone (High-Falling)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 4 is a sharp, abrupt downward drop, identical to a stressed English command like 'Go!' or 'Stop!'.
👂
Listening trap: Confusing the rounded vowel [-ün] with the unrounded [-ên] or [-an]. Ensure your lips remain tightly rounded for the 'ü' sound.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: Tone 4 starts high and plunges sharply downward like a decisive nodding 'No!' or a sharp chop of the hand.
3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 5 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left component (言) is narrower and compressed, while the right component (讯's right side, derived from 卂) is wider and dynamic, ensuring the whole character maintains visual equilibrium.

Simplification Logic: Derived from the traditional form 訊, where the phonetic right side 卂 was kept consistent in both simplified and traditional systems, but paired with the simplified speech radical 讠.

4. Components

Radical 讠 · Speech radical (words, speaking, communication)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 讠 (indicates meanings related to words, communication, inquiry, or formal statements)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 卂 (original sound: xùn)

The speech radical (讠) meets the phonetic component representing fast motion or soaring (卂), combining to form messages that fly fast (news) or words that rush forward in questioning (interrogation).

  • 讠 Speech or communication
  • 卂 Phonetic clue and representation of speed/quick movement
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally combined 言 (speech) and 卂 (fast flying bird or swift motion), representing swift words or rapid communication traveling from afar.

Semantic Evolution: Shifted from rapid messaging and dispatching inquiries to general news, information, and formal judicial interrogation.

  • In ancient times, military intelligence and urgent news were transmitted swiftly, cementing the link between speech/writing and speed.
6. Sinosphere
🇻🇳
Sino-Vietnamese
tấn
The Sino-Vietnamese reading 'tấn' matches the entering/stopped or high tone categories historically, while Mandarin uses the 4th tone.
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: ジン (jin) or シン (shin)
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
신
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story

To gather fast **news** (**讯**), you use your **speech** (讠) to send a message **swiftly** like a bird soaring into the sky (卂).

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
讯
xùnnews, inquireBase form with speech radical
讯
xùn讯 is the simplified form of 訊Uses simplified speech radical 讠
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
训(xùn)
训 uses 川 (river) on the right, meaning instruction or discipline (flowing teachings like a river), whereas 讯 uses 卂, meaning news or interrogation.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
老师发给我们一条重要的考试[___]。
Clue: xùn xī
Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing it with 训 (xùn - lesson/discipline) due to the identical pronunciation and similar visual structure.

Memory Prompts
Recognition: When you see 讯, what core concepts of communication or inquiry come to mind?
Production: How do you write the character for 'news' or 'interrogate' pronounced xùn with a speech radical?
Real-World Video Context

Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.

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