inquiry

inquiry 指通过提问获取信息，也可指为弄清事实或知识而进行的调查、探究。

💡 记忆钩子

把 inquiry 想成“向未知处探进去”：先是提出问题、询问信息，进一步就是系统地查找事实、探索知识。

📝 学习建议

先掌握“询问、提问”这一核心概念，再扩展到“调查、探究”；不要只把 inquiry 记成普通的“问题”。
它既可以指一次具体的询问，也可以指较正式、较系统的调查过程。

📖 中文释义

noun

core 询问；提问

📖 指为了得到信息而提出问题，既可以是一次具体的询问，也可以泛指提问这一行为；核心画面是把问题伸向未知处，等待答案。

💡 常见结构是“make an inquiry”或“inquiries about + 主题”，表示提出询问或咨询某事。这个词通常比普通的“问题”更正式，常用于客服、机构和书面场合；不要把它误当成单纯的疑问句本身。

countable uncountable

I am writing to make an inquiry about the delivery date.

我写信是想询问送货日期。

The office received several inquiries from local residents.

办公室收到了当地居民的几次询问。
core 调查；探究

📖 指为了弄清真相、事实或知识而进行的较系统的查找和检查；它是从一个问题出发，持续向未知处探进去，接近“调查”或“探究”。

💡 常见结构是“an inquiry into + 事件或问题”，表示针对某事展开正式调查；“scientific inquiry”则表示科学探究。这个义项常见于新闻、学术和正式报告，不宜在所有普通搜索或随意查看的场合使用。

countable uncountable

The committee opened an inquiry into the cause of the accident.

委员会开始调查这起事故的原因。

inquiries plural

📘 英文释义 (WordNet) 共 3 组

a systematic investigation of a matter of public interest

同义词集: inquiry enquiry

上位: investigating, investigation 下位: inquest

a search for knowledge

同义词集: inquiry enquiry research

their pottery deserves more research than it has received

下位: canvass, experiment, experimentation, investigation, opinion poll, poll, probe, public opinion poll

an instance of questioning;

同义词集: question inquiry enquiry query interrogation

there was a question about my training

we made inquiries of all those who were present

反义: answer 上位: inquiring, questioning

🌳 词源

源自中古英语，来自古法语动词，最终与拉丁语中表示“向内寻找、寻求”的成分有关；后来拼写改得更接近拉丁语形式。

From Middle English enquery, from the Old French verb enquerre, from Latin inquīrō, composed of in- (“in, at, on; into”) + quaerō (“to seek, look for”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Italic *kʷaizeō, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₂- (“to acquire”). Later respelled to conform to the original Latin spelling, as opposed to the Old French spelling.

🔄 变式

inquiries plural

🏷 单词标签 & 词根