Traditional: 問
wèn HSK 2

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

我问老师。
Wǒ wèn lǎoshī.
I ask the teacher.
他问问题了。
Tā wèn wèntí le.
He asked a question.
你问我吧。
Nǐ wèn wǒ ba.
You ask me.
我会向老师求助。
Wǒ huì xiàng lǎoshī qiúzhù.
I will ask the teacher for help.
她询问了火车时刻表。
Tā xúnwènle huǒchē shíkèbiǎo.
She inquired about the train schedule.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of the character 门 (mén) meaning 'door' with 口 (kǒu) meaning 'mouth' inside it. Imagine your 'mouth' at the 'door' asking a question to gain entry to information.

📝 Usage Notes

问 is used in both formal and informal contexts, in spoken and written language. It is extremely common in everyday conversation for asking questions, making requests for information, or expressing doubt. For example, it's used when asking for directions, checking facts, or in polite inquiries like 'May I ask...' (请问, qǐngwèn).

📖 Grammar Points

问 follows the common verb-object structure: Subject + 问 + Person + Question. For example, '他问我一个问题' (He asked me a question). It is also the verb in the pivotal construction '问...是不是/有没有...' (ask if/whether...).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In polite conversation, 请问 (qǐngwèn) is a crucial phrase meaning 'May I ask...' and is used as a softener before any question, especially with strangers, to show respect. Directly asking personal questions (e.g., about salary or age) with 问 can sometimes be considered intrusive unless among close friends.

🔄 Similar Words

问 (to ask) is often compared to 说 (shuō, to say) and 告诉 (gàosu, to tell). While 说 is neutral for speaking, and 告诉 is for telling/informing someone, 问 is specifically for the act of asking a question to obtain information.

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