问候

• Pinyin: wèn hòu
• Hanzi breakdown: 问 = 门 (door) + 口 (mouth), asking at the door; 候 = 亻(person) + 侯 (marquis/look after), attending to someone

Meaning

To greet; to send one's regards; a greeting.

Used to convey greetings or warm regards, either in person or through another person. Slightly more formal than 打招呼. Common in letters, phone calls, and polite conversation. Also used as a noun meaning 'a greeting' or 'regards.'

Examples

1. 请代我向你的父母问候。 Please pass on my regards to your parents.
2. 他在信的结尾写道：向朋友们问候。 At the end of the letter he wrote: regards to my friends.
3. 每次见面，她总是先向大家问候一声。 Every time they meet, she always greets everyone first.

Usage Guide

Context: greetings, letters, social

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 请转达我对王老师的问候。(Please pass on my regards to Teacher Wang.)
• 他打电话来，专程向我们问候。(He called especially to send us his greetings.)

Don't Say

• 我去问候一下超市。(Don't use 问候 for inanimate places or objects — it's for people only.)

Origin & History

Compound of 问 (to ask, inquire) and 候 (to wait upon, to look after someone's wellbeing), suggesting checking in on someone's wellbeing.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal