Meaning of 请问
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- Excuse me, may I ask...?
How to use 请问
请问 opens a polite question to a stranger or someone you want to show respect to, much like "Excuse me, may I ask." It goes at the start of the sentence, and the actual question follows right after. Example: 请问，厕所在哪儿？(Qǐngwèn, cèsuǒ zài nǎr?) Excuse me, where is the restroom?
请 (qǐng) means please and 问 (wèn) means to ask, so 请问 is literally "please ask." Picture someone politely standing at a door, since 问 has a mouth 口 inside a door 门, asking a question.
Common mistake: Learners often use 请问 to get past someone or to apologize, but it only introduces a question. For getting someone's attention without asking anything, or for squeezing past, use 不好意思 (bù hǎo yìsi) or 借过 (jièguò). Also note that 请 is third tone and 问 is fourth tone, so say qǐngwèn, not qīngwèn.
请问 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
请 qǐng · to ask · 10 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
问 wèn · to ask · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
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- 4
- 5
- 6
Related words
Words that share a character with 请问.
| 请假 | qǐngjià | to request leave of absence |
| 请进 | qǐng jìn | "please come in" |
| 请坐 | qǐng zuò | please, have a seat |
| 问题 | wèntí | question; problem |
| 请求 | qǐngqiú | to request; to ask; request (CL:個|个[ge4]) |
| 请客 | qǐngkè | to give a dinner party; to entertain guests |
| 问路 | wènlù | to ask for directions; to ask the way (to some place) |
| 访问 | fǎngwèn | to visit; to call on (a person or place); (computing) to visit (a website); to access (a n |
| 提问 | tíwèn | to question; to quiz; to grill |
| 请教 | qǐngjiào | to ask for guidance; to consult |
| 申请 | shēnqǐng | to apply for sth; application form (CL:份[fen4]) |
| 问候 | wènhòu | to give one's respects; to send a greeting |
Questions about 请问
What does 请问 mean?
请问 (qǐngwèn) means "Excuse me, may I ask...?" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 请问?
请问 is made of 2 characters: 请 (10 strokes), 问 (6 strokes). That is 16 strokes in total.
Is 请问 an HSK word?
Yes. 请问 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 请问 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 请问 is written 請問.
Is 请问 the same as 对不起?
No. 对不起 (duìbuqǐ) is an apology meaning "I'm sorry." 请问 is a polite way to start a question and does not apologize for anything.
Can I put 请问 at the end of a question?
No, 请问 normally comes at the very beginning, often followed by a pause or comma. You can also put a subject after it, as in 请问您贵姓？(Qǐngwèn nín guìxìng?) May I ask your surname?