问路 (wèn lù) — to ask for directions | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

问路 is a verb-object phrase meaning 'to ask for directions' — more specific than just asking (问), since it always pairs with 路 'the way' or a place you're trying to reach.

verb

to ask for directions

Examples

，问路。
Tā dì yī cì lái zhè ge chéng shì, xū yào wèn lù.
He came to this city for the first time and needs to ask for directions.
，。
Tā wèn guò lù, zhī dào zěn me qù nà lǐ.
He asked for directions before and knows how to get there.
问路，。
Nǐ kě yǐ yòng shǒu jī wèn lù, bú yòng wèn bié rén.
You can use your phone to ask for directions, no need to ask others.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

问wènask

路lùroad; way

问 is to ask, and 路 is the road or way being asked about, so the whole means to ask for directions.

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.

門口問

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

足足zú

Sound part声符shēngfú

各

各gè路lù

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

路 combines 足, a foot, with 各, which supplies the sound.

Open 路 →

Appears in

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