TongTong
Sign in

问及 (wèn jí) — to ask about, to mention (in speech or writing)

Definition

问及 (wèn jí) is a formal, written-style verb meaning 'to bring up or ask about' a topic, stronger in tone than the everyday 问. It implies the topic was raised deliberately in speech or writing.

verb
to ask aboutto mention (in speech or writing)

Examples

  • ，问及。
    Zài cǎi fǎng zhōng, jì zhě wèn jí le tā de tóng nián jīng lì.
    During the interview, the reporter asked about his childhood experiences.
  • ，问及。
    Zhè ge wèn tí, méi yǒu rén gǎn zhǔ dòng wèn jí.
    No one dared to bring up this issue voluntarily.
  • 问及。
    Tā zài xìn zhōng wèn jí le wǒ de jìn kuàng.
    In his letter, he asked about my recent situation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

问wènask
及jíreach

问 means to ask and 及 means to reach or involve; together they mean to ask about or bring up.

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 →

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

及 pairs 人 (person) with 又 (hand), showing a hand grabbing a person.

Open 及 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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