About
The traditional character '問' structurally integrates the 'door' radical (門) with the 'mouth' radical (口) placed inside it, an arrangement that conceptually links the act of asking to speaking through a gateway or seeking information from beyond a personal domain. This etymological foundation highlights inquiry as a means of crossing a threshold into understanding. The simplified form '问' retains the essential composition by condensing the 'door' element to '门' while preserving the internal 'mouth', thus continuing to visually suggest verbal exchange. Over centuries, the character's core meaning of posing a question has persisted, though its usage has extended to denote more formal proceedings such as investigations or official examinations.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我想问你一件事。
她经常问老师问题。
请问,图书馆在哪里?
他问我能不能帮忙。
我问他为什么迟到。
这个问题很难回答。
她询问了事情的经过。
记者追问了事故的原因。