How to say "consult" in Japanese

• 議すぎす
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers consulting someone in the sense of talking a matter over with them. It is a less common word, so it is seldom the one learners reach for.
• 参考にするさんこうにする
  expression, suru verbCovers consulting something as a source of information: you refer to it or use it as a reference rather than talking the matter over with a person.
  どの辞書じしょを参考さんこうにしたんですか。↗

  Which dictionary did you refer to?
• 繰るくるCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers consulting a dictionary: you look a word up by turning or flipping through the pages. It is a common word, and this consult sense is specific to dictionaries.
• 計らうはからう
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers consulting with someone, talking a matter over. It is less common, and in many uses it means to arrange or see to something, so it is seldom the word you want for 'consult'.
• 見てもらうみてもらう
  expression, godan verbCovers 'consult someone' in the sense of having that person look at something: you show your work or problem and receive their opinion.

Choose by sense: 「繰る」 for consulting a dictionary, 「参考にする」 for using something as a reference, 「見てもらう」 for having someone look at something, and 「議す」 or 「計らう」 for talking a matter over, both less common.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 議すぎすto consult (someone)
• 参考にするさんこうにするto refer to
• 繰るくるto turn (pages)
• 計らうはからうto consult (with)
• 見てもらうみてもらうto consult (someone)
• 引くひくto look up (in a dictionary, phone book, etc.)