问起 (wèn qǐ) — to ask about (a topic), to bring up and inquire about

Definition

问起 is a separable verb: 问 + 起. The 起 adds a sense of "bringing up / raising (a topic)" — often something mentioned before, not asked out of the blue.

verb
to ask about (a topic)to bring up and inquire about

Examples

  • 问起。
    Tā wèn qǐ nǐ de gōng zuò.
    He asked about your job.
  • 问起。
    Lǎo shī wèn qǐ zuó tiān de zuò yè.
    The teacher asked about yesterday's homework.
  • 问起。
    Mā ma wèn qǐ nǐ zuì jìn zěn me yàng.
    Mom asked how you've been lately.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

问wènask
起qǐup

问起 is to 问 something 起, bringing it up and asking about it.

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 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 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

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