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问道 (wèn dào) — to ask the way; to seek advice, to inquire about (a topic, method, etc.)

Definition

问道 is a literary, formal way to say 'ask the way' or 'seek guidance' — used more in writing or classical-flavored speech than everyday 问. It implies seeking knowledge or a method, not just a physical direction.

verb
to ask the wayto seek adviceto inquire about (a topic, method, etc.)

Examples

  • ，问道。
    Wǒ men bù zhī dào lù, jiù xiàng lù rén wèn dào.
    We didn't know the way, so we asked a passerby for directions.
  • 问道，。
    Tā tè yì lái xiàng wǒ wèn dào, xiǎng liǎo jiě zhè ge wèn tí de jiě jué fāng fǎ.
    He came specifically to seek my advice, wanting to understand the solution to this problem.
  • ，。
    Wǒ men wèn le yí xià dào, hěn kuài jiù zhǎo dào le dì fāng.
    We asked for directions once, and quickly found the place.

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
道dàoway; road

问 asks and 道 is the way, so the phrase 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.

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
行行xíngstreet
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𩠐
首shǒu道dào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Early 道 showed a street 行, a foot 止, and a part written 首 or 𩠐; the right part of 行 later disappeared.

Open 道 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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