查询
cháxún · HSK 5
inquire into/about
🔍 查 = check/investigate + 询 = ask; literally check-and-ask
查 means to check or investigate (as in 检查 inspect); 询 means to ask or inquire (as in 询问). Together 查询 = look up by asking — what you do at a help desk, search box, or database query.
查 — wood 木 + sun-on-tree 旦-like 且
Originally a variant form related to 楂 (a type of raft or wooden float), combining 木 (tree/wood) with 且 as phonetic. Over time it shifted to mean 'to inspect' or 'investigate,' likely through the idea of examining wood or tallies. The reading chá for 'check' became dominant in modern usage.