consult

Compared meaning: check a source for information or advice (verb).

比较义项：查阅资料以获取信息或建议（动词）。

• refer

  Always takes the preposition 'to' before the source (refer to a manual, a person, a rule); simply means looking at or mentioning something for information, with no implication that advice or expertise is being sought.

  refer 后面总是接介词 to 再接来源（如 refer to a manual、a person、a rule）；它只表示查看或提到某物以获取信息，并不暗示在寻求专业意见或建议。

  Please refer to the manual if you have any questions.

  如果你有任何疑问，请查阅说明书。

• consult 本词

  Used transitively without 'to' (consult a doctor, consult a dictionary); more strongly implies seeking careful, expert advice, often from a professional or authoritative source, and sounds slightly more formal than refer.

  consult 是及物动词，后面不需要 to（如 consult a doctor、consult a dictionary）；它更强调认真地寻求专业意见或建议，对象常是专业人士或权威资料，语气也比 refer 更正式。

  You should consult a doctor before starting any new exercise plan.

  在开始任何新的锻炼计划之前，你应该咨询医生。

Refer and consult both mean checking a source for information. Refer always takes to and simply means looking at something. Consult takes no to and suggests seeking advice. This does not cover refer meaning to mention someone or consult meaning to talk with someone.

这两个词在“查阅资料以获取信息”这个意义上很接近，但用法和语气有别：refer 语气中性，强调“参考、查看”某个来源，后面必须接介词 to；consult 语气更正式，强调认真咨询专家或权威资料以获得建议，是及物动词，不接 to。这里不比较 refer 表示“提到，说起”（如 refer to him as a genius）以及 consult 表示人与人之间“商议，磋商”的用法。