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HSK 2

问

to ask

verbneutral1 episode
问
wèn4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
wèn
Part of speech
verb
Level
HSK 2
Strokes
6
Register
neutral
In episodes
1

Stroke order for 问

问 is written with 6 strokes. The animation replays automatically.

What does 问 mean?

问 (wèn) is the basic Chinese verb 'to ask' — to put a question to someone.

It covers both asking for information (我想问一个问题, 'I want to ask a question') and asking after someone (问候, 'to send regards'). One difference from English: Chinese 问 takes the person being asked as a direct object without a preposition — 我问老师 ('I ask the teacher'), not 'I ask TO the teacher.' For polite requests like 'may I ask...?'

the standard opener is 请问 (qǐng wèn), which is the courteous way to start any question with a stranger. 问 also appears in many compounds: 问题 (question/problem), 问候 (regards), 询问 (to inquire, more formal), and 访问 (to visit / to interview).

Hear 问 in real episodes

问 appears in 1 Fluentide podcast episode at natural native speed — each with the full Chinese script, pinyin, and line-by-line English translation.

He Asked an AI to Get Him Into a Pilates Class. It Hacked the Gym and Cancelled a Stranger's Booking.问 spoken at natural speedbeginner
Browse the full episode library

Example sentences

请问，洗手间在哪儿？

Qǐng wèn, xǐshǒujiān zài nǎr?

Excuse me, where is the bathroom?

polite

我可以问你一个问题吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ wèn nǐ yí ge wèntí ma?

Can I ask you a question?

neutral

他问我为什么来中国。

Tā wèn wǒ wèi shénme lái Zhōngguó.

He asked me why I came to China.

neutral

替我问你妈妈好。

Tì wǒ wèn nǐ māma hǎo.

Say hello to your mom for me.

spoken

Common phrases with 问

请问qǐng wènmay I ask (polite opener)
问问题wèn wèntíto ask a question
问路wèn lùto ask for directions
问好wèn hǎoto send regards; say hello

Synonyms

询问xúnwèn

More formal and written. Used in news, official contexts, and customer service: 警方正在询问目击者 ('police are questioning witnesses'). Everyday speech uses 问.

请教qǐngjiào

Polite 'to ask for advice/instruction' — used when asking someone more knowledgeable. 我想请教您一个问题 ('I'd like to consult you on a question'). 问 is neutral; 请教 shows respect.

Don't confuse 问 with

闻wén

闻 means 'to smell' or 'to hear of' and looks similar — 门 with 耳 (ear) inside instead of 口 (mouth). 问 = ask with your mouth; 闻 = perceive with your ear/nose.

间jiān

间 means 'between' or is a measure word for rooms — 门 with 日 (sun) inside. Visually similar to 问 but completely different meaning.

FAQ

Related words from the same episodes

帮to help别人other people电脑computer坏bad回to return课class, lesson太too, excessively想to want写to write自己oneself

Acquire it by listening

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