About
The character 问 is the simplified form of traditional 問. It is a phono-semantic compound: the inner component 口 represents speech and meaning, while the outer component 门 hints at the pronunciation. In the traditional character, the outer radical was the full 門 ('door'), but the simplified form replaces it with the abbreviated 门, a common simplification pattern. The inner mouth radical, 口, remains visually unchanged from the traditional version. The combination of a mouth at a door vividly conveys the action of asking a question, which is the character's primary meaning: 'to ask' or 'to inquire'.
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。
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.