jiè​wèn

may I ask

  • created sense approved 借问/借問 · jiè​wèn · may I ask — "Initial import from upstream dictionary"

    借问 / 借問

    jiè​wèn

    may I ask

    A polite way to address someone when asking for information or directions, similar to "excuse me".

    借 (literal) → 借 · jiè · to make use of 问 (literal) → 问/問 · wèn · to ask

    Changed: simplified, traditional, gloss, definition, pinyin, variant pinyin, variants, separable parts, decomposition

    created sense

  • created sense approved 借问/借問 · jiè​wèn · to inquire — "Initial import from upstream dictionary"

    借问 / 借問

    jiè​wèn

    to inquire

    To ask someone about a matter; to make an inquiry.

    借 (literal) → 借 · jiè · to make use of 问 (literal) → 问/問 · wèn · to ask

    Changed: simplified, traditional, gloss, definition, pinyin, variant pinyin, variants, separable parts, decomposition

    created sense

  • created sense approved 借问/借問 · jiè​wèn · let me ask — "Initial import from upstream dictionary"

    借问 / 借問

    jiè​wèn

    let me ask

    A rhetorical or hypothetical question used in poetry to introduce a topic, often followed immediately by the answer.

    借 (literal) → 借 · jiè · to make use of 问 (literal) → 问/問 · wèn · to ask

    Changed: simplified, traditional, gloss, definition, pinyin, variant pinyin, variants, separable parts, decomposition

    created sense