问

• Pinyin: wèn
• Hanzi breakdown: 问 = 门 (door) + 口 (mouth) — 'speaking at the door,' asking a question

Meaning

To ask; to inquire. A fundamental verb for asking questions or seeking information.

One of the most basic communication verbs. Used in many common expressions: 问题 (question/problem), 请问 (excuse me/may I ask), 问好 (to send regards). The structure is typically 问 + person + question content.

Examples

1. 我想问你一个问题。 I want to ask you a question.
2. 他问我叫什么名字。 He asked me what my name is.
3. 你去问老师吧。 Go ask the teacher.

Usage Guide

Context: communication, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请问，这是哪里？(Excuse me, where is this?)
• 我问了他三次。(I asked him three times.)

Don't Say

• 我问了一个问题给老师。(Wrong structure — say 我问了老师一个问题; the person asked comes right after 问)

Origin & History

Combines 门 (door) and 口 (mouth), depicting someone speaking at a door — the act of asking to enter or inquiring.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal