顾问

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 顾问 (gù wèn) is a compound word consisting of two characters: 顾 (gù) and 问 (wèn). The character 顾 originally meant "to look back" or "to pay attention to", and later extended to mean "to consider" or "to take into account". The character 问 originally meant "to ask" or "to inquire", and later extended to mean "to consult" or "to seek advice". Thus, the compound word 顾问 literally means "to seek advice by looking back", which implies the idea of seeking advice from someone who has experience or knowledge in a particular field. In modern Chinese, 顾问 is used as a noun to refer to an advisor, consultant, or counselor, who provides professional advice or guidance on a specific subject or issue.