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质问 (zhì wèn) — to question (sternly or accusingly), to interrogate, to call to account

Definition

A confrontational 'to question / call to account' that implies the asker already suspects wrongdoing. Sharper than 询问 (neutral 'inquire') and 提问 ('put a question to'); pairs with 质疑, which doubts a fact rather than presses a person.

verb
to question (sternly or accusingly)to interrogateto call to account

Examples

  • 质问。
    Lǎo bǎn zhì wèn tā wèi shén me méi yǒu àn shí wán chéng gōng zuò.
    The boss questioned him accusingly about why he didn't finish the work on time.
  • 质问，。
    Miàn duì jì zhě de zhì wèn, fā yán rén bǎo chí le chén mò.
    Faced with the reporters' questioning, the spokesperson remained silent.
  • 质问。
    Tā zhì wèn wǒ wèi shén me méi yǒu tí qián tōng zhī tā.
    He questioned me sternly about why I hadn't notified him in advance.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

质zhìchallenge
问wènask

质 and 问 both mean to ask or challenge, so the word expresses demanding an answer.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 質; 质 is its simplified writing.

  • 斦斦yín
  • 貝貝bèi

The traditional form 質 is made up of 貝 and 斦; this describes 質, not the simplified 质.

Open 质 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Communication & Speech

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.