問題

• Reading: もんだい
• Romaji: mondai
• Kanji breakdown: 問 (mon/to) — question, ask; 題 (dai) — topic, subject
• Pronunciation: /moɴ.da.i/

Meaning

Question; problem. A question on a test, or a problem that needs to be solved.

A noun combining 問 (question) and 題 (topic). Has two primary meanings: questions or exercises on tests and worksheets, and problems or issues in a broader sense. Very common in both academic and everyday contexts. The phrase 問題ない (no problem) is widely used in casual conversation.

Examples

1. この問題は簡単です。 This problem is easy.
2. 問題を十個解きました。 I solved ten problems.
3. 何か問題がありましたか。 Was there any problem?

Usage Guide

Context: education, tests, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 問 (question) and 題 (topic, subject). Borrowed from classical Chinese, where it referred to topics posed for discussion or examination.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal