问 wèn ask
How to remember 问: 门 door + 口 mouth = ask. He pushes his mouth through the half-open door to ask loudly "Can I come in, please?"
Component breakdown
问 = 门 door + 口 mouth
- 门 door
- 口 mouth
He pushes his mouth through the half-open door to ask loudly "Can I come in, please?"
How it is used
- 'Ask / inquire' - 问问题 (wèn wèntí) ask a question, 问路 (wèn lù) ask directions.
- 请问 (qǐngwèn) 'may I ask' is the polite opener for asking a stranger; 访问 (fǎngwèn) is to visit/interview.
- Note 问 is asking a question, distinct from 请 (qǐng, request/invite) and 要 (yào, ask for/demand).
Words with 问
- 问题wèntíquestionHSK 1
- 请问qǐngwènExcuse me, may I ask...?HSK 1
- 提问tíwènto questionHSK 5
- 疑问yíwènquestionHSK 5
- 访问fǎngwènto visitHSK 5
- 询问xúnwènto inquireHSK 5
- 问卷wènjuànquestionnaireHSK 5
- 学问xuéwenlearningHSK 6
- 顾问gùwènadviserHSK 6
- 反问fǎnwènto ask (a question) in replyHSK 7
- 质问zhìwènto questionHSK 7
- 过问guòwènto show an interest inHSK 7
- 问世wènshìto be publishedHSK 7
- 问候wènhòuto give one's respectsHSK 7
- 不耻下问bùchǐ-xiàwènnot feel ashamed to ask and learn from one's subordinatesHSK 8
- 慰问wèiwènto express sympathyHSK 8
- 追问zhuīwènto question closelyHSK 9
Example sentences
- 我可以问你一件事吗？ Wǒ kěyǐ wèn nǐ yí jiàn shì ma?May I ask you a question?
- 汽车出问题了。 Qìchē chū wèntí le.There's something wrong with the car.
- 他解决了这个问题。 Tā jiějuéle zhège wèntí.He solved this problem.
- 让我来回答这个问题。 Ràng wǒ lái huídá zhège wèntí.Let me answer this question.