TongTong
Sign in

过问 (guò wèn) — to inquire into, to show concern about (someone's affairs, often when one has authority); to get involved in, to meddle (in someone's private matters)

Definition

过问 means to inquire into or show concern about a matter one has authority over — neutral when a superior checks on something, negative when applied to others' private affairs. Stronger interference than 干涉; less neutral than 干预.

verb
to inquire intoto show concern about (someone's affairs, often when one has authority)to get involved into meddle (in someone's private matters)

Examples

  • 过问，。
    Zhè jiàn shì yǐ jīng guò wèn guò le, bú yòng zài dān xīn.
    This matter has already been looked into; no need to worry anymore.
  • 过问。
    Bié rén de sī shì nǐ zuì hǎo bié guò wèn.
    You'd better not meddle in other people's private affairs.
  • 过问。
    Tā cóng lái bú guò wèn gōng sī yǐ wài de suǒ shì.
    He never gets involved in trivial matters outside the company.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

过guòto go over
问wènto ask

过, going over a matter, and 问, asking about it, together express taking interest or inquiring.

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 過; 过 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
咼
咼wāi過guò
Same sound today

The traditional form 過 pairs 辵 (walk) with 咼 as a sound component; the simplified 过 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 过 →

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 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6

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