请问 qǐng wèn
“Excuse me, may I ask...?”
verb2021 list level 1Traditional 請問
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
请问 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 166: 请问 qǐngwèn — Level 1; official annotation 1 (动). PDF page 84
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 请问
请问 is a polite lead-in used at the beginning of a question, meaning “Excuse me, may I ask…?” It is followed directly by the question, often with a comma after 请问. It is not used for statements or answers, and it normally comes only at the start of the sentence.
例句Example sentences
- 请问，洗手间在哪儿？qǐng wèn, xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎr?Excuse me, where is the restroom?
- 请问您贵姓？qǐng wèn nín guì xìng?May I ask your surname?
- 请问，这个字怎么读？qǐng wèn, zhè ge zì zěn me dú?Excuse me, how do you read this character?
易混词Easily confused
请问vs请
请 means “please” or “invite” and can precede many requests or actions, while 请问 specifically introduces a question and means “Excuse me, may I ask…?”