请问

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 请问 (qǐngwèn) is a polite way to ask a question. It is composed of two characters: 请 (qǐng), which means "please" or "to invite," and 问 (wèn), which means "to ask" or "to inquire." The word 请问 is therefore literally translated as "please ask."The character 请 (qǐng) is derived from the ancient Chinese character 乞 (qǐ), which meant "to beg" or "to request." Over time, the character 请 came to be used more broadly to express politeness and respect. The character 问 (wèn) is derived from the ancient Chinese character 訊 (xùn), which meant "to examine" or "to investigate." Over time, the character 问 came to be used more broadly to mean "to ask" or "to inquire."The word 请问 is first recorded in the Chinese dictionary Shuowen Jiezi, which was compiled in the 2nd century AD. The dictionary defines 请问 as "to ask politely." The word 请问 is commonly used in Mandarin Chinese today to ask questions in a polite and respectful manner. It can be used in both formal and informal settings.