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发问 (fā wèn) — to ask a question; to inquire

Definition

发问 (fāwèn) is a more formal verb for 'to ask a question,' used in writing, lectures, or interviews rather than casual chat. Colloquial speech usually prefers 问.

verb
to ask a questionto inquire

Examples

  • 发问。
    Tā zhàn qǐ lái xiàng lǎo shī fā wèn.
    He stood up and asked the teacher a question.
  • 发问。
    Jì zhě zài xīn wén fā bù huì shàng lián xù fā wèn.
    The reporter kept asking questions at the press conference.
  • ，发问。
    Qǐng dà jiā jī jí sī kǎo, yǒng yuè fā wèn.
    Please think actively and ask questions enthusiastically.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

发fāsend out
问wènquestion

发 (send out) and 问 (question) combine to mean sending out a question, i.e. asking.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 發; 发 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 发 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (爆发, 出发) it is 發; in others (理发, 头发) it is 髮.

The form 發, which 发 stands for in many words, was originally drawn as a bow firing an arrow.

Open 发 →

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
Sports & Athletics

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