Definition

1. Verb:

   • To consult: To seek information, advice, or an opinion from a person or source with specialized knowledge or authority. It implies a formal or professional exchange.
   • To advise / To provide counsel: To give expert or professional guidance on a particular matter. (This meaning is less common for the verb form in modern usage and is more frequently covered by related nouns.)

2. Noun (less common):

   • Consultation: The act or process of consulting. This nominal usage is derived from the verb.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Chúng tôi cần tham vấn ý kiến của chuyên gia trước khi quyết định. (We need to consult an expert's opinion before deciding.)
  • Luật sư tham vấn cho công ty về các vấn đề pháp lý. (The lawyer consults for the company on legal issues.)
• Noun:
  • Cuộc tham vấn giữa hai bên đã đạt được đồng thuận. (The consultation between the two parties reached a consensus.)

Advanced Usage

• "tham vấn tâm lý": psychological counseling.

  • Cô ấy làm nghề tham vấn tâm lý cho học sinh. (She works as a psychological counselor for students.)

• Used in formal, official, or professional contexts such as law, psychology, business, and governance. It is more formal than "hỏi ý kiến" (to ask for an opinion).

Variants and Related Words

• Tư vấn (v/n): to advise / advice, consultation. Often used interchangeably with "tham vấn," though "tư vấn" can be slightly more general for "advising," while "tham vấn" emphasizes the act of seeking counsel.

  • Công ty tư vấn thiết kế. (A design consulting company.)

• Cố vấn (n): advisor, consultant (a person).

  • cố vấn cấp cao (senior advisor)

• Tham khảo (v): to consult (a document, source, or reference material).

  • tham khảo sách (to consult a book)

Synonyms

• Consult: To seek professional advice.
• Counsel: To give professional guidance (often as a verb, but more common as a noun: "legal counsel").
• Confer: To have discussions, especially before a decision.

Related Terms and Phrases

• Luật sư tham vấn: Consulting lawyer / Legal consultant.

  • Văn phòng luật sư tham vấn đó rất uy tín. (That legal consultant's office is very reputable.)

• Dịch vụ tham vấn: Consulting service.

  • Công ty chúng tôi cung cấp dịch vụ tham vấn tài chính. (Our company provides financial consulting services.)