問

Core senses include information seeking (including formal dialectic or philosophical inquiry), social solicitude (inquiring after the well-being of an elder, superior, or ill person; often a euphemism for visiting), and requests for guidance or rulings.

Functions as a transitive verb ("ask X"), a noun ("a question" or "an inquiry"), or a structural marker signaling the start of a Q&A sequence (often paired with 答).

Contrast with 訊 (xùn), which implies interrogation, official reporting, or extraction of evidence, and 求 (qiú), which refers to requesting favors, physical objects, or specific results rather than information.

Tang-period reading *miə̀n; simplified variant U+95EE.

When encountering 問 as a structural marker in dialogue-heavy texts, determine whether the context requires a narrative rendering ("He asked...") or a formal heading ("Inquiry:").