Picture a visitor stopped at the front gate, mouth open, asking the person inside for directions or news. The mouth (口) sits inside the door frame (门), so the whole character literally shows 'asking at the door.' That's why 问 means 'to ask' — the mouth is doing the work, and the door is the scene.
问好 is a fixed greeting; the person goes between 问 and 好. 问好他 sounds broken.
请问 already contains 问. Doubling it is wrong.
The person you ask must come right after 问. Putting the question first sounds like broken word order.
Put the person right after 问. The actual question comes last.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Asking a person | 我问老师怎么去 | 我问怎么去老师 |
| Asking a friend | 我问朋友怎么去 | 我问怎么去朋友 |
| Asking me | 你问我怎么去 | 你问怎么去我 |
请问 is a polite opener before questions to strangers. 问 alone is just the verb.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| To a stranger | 请问，医院在哪儿？ | 医院在哪儿？ (can sound blunt) |
| To a friend | 医院在哪儿？ | 请问，医院在哪儿？ (too formal) |
| In a shop | 请问，这个多少钱？ | 这个多少钱？ (okay but less polite) |
问好 means say hi/send regards. The person goes between 问 and 好.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Say hi to him | 问他好 | 问好他 |
| Say hi to teacher | 问老师好 | 问好老师 |
| Say hi to mom | 问妈妈好 | 问好妈妈 |
Before you read, think about the questions you ask every day. This simple poem shows you how to ask age, price, time, and more in friendly Chinese.
问 问题 ，要知道， 问 老师，说“ 请问 ”。
问 日期，几月几？
问 星期，星期几？
问 同学，你多大？
问 小孩儿，你几岁？
Before you read: this is a short rhyming poem. You will meet a doctor who asks about seeing and hearing. Try to spot words you already know!
一个 小问题 。
看病医生看，医生 问 问题 。
真的 没问题 。
Join a beginner as they ask a Chinese friend to teach them how to cook. This simple HSK 1 dialogue shows that learning one dish at a time is the best way to start.
小米 问 我，我想学做什么菜。
小米说，我再 问 你一个 问题 ，你现在会做什么菜呢？
小米说：“这 没问题 ，你可以一个一个学习。”
This short, simple story follows a shopper's trip to the supermarket to buy apples. You'll learn useful vocabulary for shopping, prices, and comparing things.
我 问 超市的人小苹果怎么样？
我 问 超市的人那两个苹果是哪里的？
In this dialogue, two people chat while waiting outside a cinema. You'll hear common phrases for talking about hobbies, sports, and movie preferences.
问一下儿 ，你在等人吗？
Ａ：可以 问 你几个 问题 吗？
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
他 问 我：“你们这行怎么样？”
我 问 他您刚才饭桌上怎么不吃东西。
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
白天明 问 ：“老先生，您家里有大白猫，您怎么还要找大白猫呢？”
我写了找猫的话，天天有人打电话 问 我‘老先生，猫找到了吗’。
Before you read, meet the grandparents! This rhyming chant helps you practice the different names for maternal and paternal grandparents in Chinese. Listen to the beat and repeat.
宝宝，宝宝，我 问 你，爸爸的爸爸叫什么？
宝宝，宝宝，我再 问 你妈妈的爸爸叫什么？
This playful rhyme helps you learn family words in Chinese. Practice saying who's who with simple questions and answers!
小朋友，我 问问 你，这个小朋友，他是谁？
小朋友，我再 问 你，这个女孩子，她是谁？
Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.
胡之适接到这封信，知道了他虽然只是一位卖饼干的，竟然能在业余勤奋自学； 问的 又是胡博士最关心的英美政治 问题 ，更觉十分高兴，便立即亲自写了一封回信。
信中说：“你提出的 问题 太大，我不能给你一个可以使我自己认为满意的解释。
In this easy story, you will follow a simple trip to the supermarket to buy apples. Practice numbers, question words, and nationalities in a real-life shopping context.
我 问 超市的人那三个苹果是哪里的？
In this HSK 1 story, two old friends from Britain and China share a meal with their girlfriends. A simple question about who pays leads to a clever and funny solution.
“谢大中说：“ 没问题 。
Before you read, try clapping the rhythm. This poem introduces the days of the week and a fun secret: Chinese has two names for Sunday, but no 'Week Seven'!
你想知道星期几，可以 问 他星期几。
In this warm dialogue, a parent introduces their family at a restaurant. A teacher gently corrects common mistakes about family words and names, making it perfect for HSK 2 learners.
😅B：小 问题 。
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
他给爸爸妈妈打了个电话， 问 他们那边怎么样。
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
大中 问 ：“老先生，您天天坐在这儿看外边，您在看什么呢？”
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
大中 问 老先生：“老先生，十点多了，您怎么还没回家？”
Ever wondered where old Beijing's tea-drinking culture has gone? Follow a visitor discovering why locals now avoid famous tea houses—and practice expressing surprise and comparisons in Chinese along the way.
我 问 一个老北京哪个茶馆儿最好。
Everyday greetings are a gateway to natural Chinese. Practice time-based hellos like “早上好” and “晚安,” learn to address teachers with the respectful “您,” and see how families skip formalities to speak warmly at home.
手机 问好 说早安！
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