试问 (shì wèn) — (formal, rhetorical) may we ask; I'd like to ask (used to preface a rhetorical question)

Definition

A formal written phrase used to introduce a rhetorical question, often to challenge or point out an obvious truth. Closer to written-style 'may we ask' or 'I ask you' than to everyday asking verbs like 问.

idiom
(formal, rhetorical) may we askI'd like to ask (used to preface a rhetorical question)

Examples

  • 试问，？
    shì wèn, Zhè yàng de zuò fǎ gōng píng ma?
    May we ask, is this practice fair?
  • 试问，？
    shì wèn, Shuí bù xiǎng yào yí gè měi hǎo de wèi lái ne?
    I ask you, who doesn't want a bright future?
  • 试问，，？
    shì wèn, Zài rú cǐ jiān nán de tiáo jiàn xià, hái yǒu bié de xuǎn zé ma?
    May we ask, under such difficult conditions, is there another choice?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

试shìtry
问wènask

试 means try and 问 means ask, so it introduces a polite or rhetorical question.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 試; 试 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
式
式shì試shì
Same sound today

The traditional form 試 puts 言 beside 式, and 式 gives the sound; the simplified 试 is the form of this character.

Open 试 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 問; 问 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
門
門mén問wèn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 問 combines 口 (mouth) with 門, which gives the sound; the simplified 问 is a later shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 问 →

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