审讯 (shěn xùn) is a formal noun meaning 'interrogation' or 'official questioning', typically conducted by police, prosecutors, or judicial authorities during criminal investigations. The character 审 (shěn) means 'to examine' or 'to scrutinize', emphasizing careful, authoritative review; 讯 (xùn) means 'to question' or 'to inquire', often in an official or investigative context. Together, they convey a structured, legally sanctioned process—not casual questioning, but a serious procedure aimed at gathering evidence or establishing facts.

This word carries strong institutional and legal connotations. It appears frequently in news reports, legal documents, and crime-related narratives. Unlike everyday words like 问 (wèn, 'to ask'), 审讯 implies power imbalance, procedural formality, and potential consequences for the person being questioned. It is rarely used outside law enforcement, judiciary, or media coverage of legal proceedings—never for friendly conversations, classroom discussions, or journalistic interviews with willing sources.