ASK   

REQUEST an ANSWER.
INQUIREQUERYWANT TO KNOWQUESTIONINTERROGATEQUIZ
Old Chinese Criteria
[ASCENDING/DESCENDING][[COMMON/RARE]][GENERAL/SPECIFIC][INFORMAL/OFFICIAL]1. The general word is wèn 問 "open a dialogue by consulting someone with a question" (ant. duì 對 "reply to a superior") which typically refers to the consultation of a person who is supposed to know something. When the adressee is explicit, the questioner is typically of higher status than the addressee, and the reply is correspondingly often phrased politely as duì yuē 對曰. When there is no explicit addressee (X asked about Y), the addressee often is of higher status (e.g. a teacher).[SPECIFIC]; [[COMMOM+]]2. Qǐng 請 is occasionally used to refer to polite requests for information.[[RARE]]3. Nàn 難 is to ask intellectually hostile questions regarding something which the person questioned has said or maintains as true, to make objections. See DISAGREE and REFUTE which are difficult to distinguish from each other and from this.[SPECIFIC], [HORIZONTAL]4. Fǎng 訪 typically refers to questioning addressed to superiors.[ASCENDING]5. Xún 詢 typically refers to rather formal questions addressed to inferiors.[DESCENDING], [OFFICIAL]6. Zī 諮/咨 refers to questions addressed to a specialist.[SPECIFIC]7. Zōu 諏 all refer to some kind of official soliciting of formal opinions.[OFFICIAL]; [[RARE]]8. Yuē 曰 is regularly used to introduce related questions as reactions within an ongoing dialogue.<div>9. Wèi 謂 may introduce what are in fact questions rather than statements.</div><div><br></div><div>10. Wèn yuē 問曰 introduces a a question that opens a new dialogue or a discrete new phase in a dialogue.</div><div><br></div><div>NB: ASKing in Chinese us always dialogic: one cannot ask oneself any question 問己, and one cannot abstractly just raise an abstract question as an intellectual issue worthy of discussion. There seems to be no word in classical Chinese for "asking a question" without addressing this question to an audience.<br></div><br>
Modern Chinese Criteria
問 is the general word referring to the asking of questions. 發問 focusses specifically on the initiative of the questioner posing a question. 提問 focusses specifically on the nature of the question asked. 訊問 focusses specifically on the process of eliicting answers to a question from someone. 問訊 is a rather formal or literary word referring to making polite inquiries. 叩問 is a polite literary way of referring to the posing of a question. 叩 is an obsolescent highly literary and obscure word for asking questions. first rough draft to identify synonym group members for future analysis 18.11.2003. CH /
Hyponym
  • INTERROGATE ASK MANY QUESTIONS of an ACCUSED HUMAN. (anc: 17/0, child: 0)
  • PROBLEM DIFFICULT AND THEORETICALLY IMPORTANT ASK:question for which one BELIEVES one LACKS an APPROPRIATE ANSWER. (anc: 17/0, child: 0)
Antonym
  • ANSWERADDRESS someone who has ADDRESSED one REQUESTING such an ADDRESS as a REACTION.
See also
  • REQUESTTo ADDRESS someone so as to TRY TO CAUSE him/her TO ACT in a certain way.
  • REQUESTTo ADDRESS someone so as to TRY TO CAUSE him/her TO ACT in a certain way.
  • QUESTION PARTICLESGRAMMAR [][NOTE THAT THE GRAMMATICAL PARTICLES HAVE NOT BEEN FOCUSSED SO FAR IN THE SYSTEM AND NO SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS HAS BEEN APPLIED SO FAR.]
Hypernym
  • REQUEST To ADDRESS someone so as to TRY TO CAUSE him/her TO ACT in a certain way. (anc: 15/0, child: 3)
  • ADDRESS SPEAK OR WRITE INTENDING ANOTHER TO HEAR OR READ AND TO REACT to IT.  (anc: 14/0, child: 23)
  • WRITE PRODUCE a DOCUMENT. (anc: 13/0, child: 4)
Other Hypernyms
  • REQUESTnew-e03497b3-9936-480f-b497-b39936b80f3f To ADDRESS someone so as to TRY TO CAUSE him/her TO ACT in a certain way. (anc: 14/1, child: 3)
  • ADDRESSnew-b2b104ff-6112-4947-b104-ff611229470d SPEAK OR WRITE INTENDING ANOTHER TO HEAR OR READ AND TO REACT to IT.  (anc: 13/0, child: 23)
  • SPEAK ACT so as to USE WORDS FOR SHOWING MEANING.*Speech by speaker X, directed towards audience Y, in order to communicate message Z. (anc: 12/0, child: 32)
  • Novyj objasnitel'nyj Slovar' Sinonimov Russkogo Jazyka ( APRESJAN 2004) p. 1095

  • A Dictionary of Selected Synonyms in the Principal Indo-European Languages ( BUCK 1988) p. 18.31

  • Lateinische Synonyme und Etymologien ( DOEDERLEIN 1840) p.

    ASK

    rogare is to ask a question because one demands to know the answer.

    interrogare refers to a question which is a request for an answer, often an anwer involving the attitudes of the addressee, and according to Quintilian involves the readiness of the questioner to enter into an argument about the answer.

    percontari refers to a question based on a strong desire to know and understand the answer, and according to Quintilian this simply involves a desire to know.

    sciscitari refers to a question about certain facts assumed to be objectively known, and typically this type of question is for ulterior motives.

    quaerere is to ask a question because in the spirit of honest inquiry.

    requirere is to try to get informed about something, often routinely.

    Impersonal:

    quaeritur "The question is..."

    quaestionem ponere, affere,

    quaestio oritur, exoritur, nascitur

    Nominalised:

    interrogatio refers to the act of questioning.

    dubitatio refers to a doubtful question.

    quaestio refers to an open question which is the subject of intellectual inquiry.

    percontatio refers to a (typically persistent) attempt to get information.

    interrogatiuncula refers to petty questioning on matters of no consequence.

    quaestiuncula refers to a petty problem.

    disceptatiuncula refers to a petty eristic discussion.

    Reflexive:

    interrogare me ipse coepi "I have begun to ask myself"

  • Lateinische Synonymik ( MENGE) p. 47

  • Historisches Woerterbuch der Philosophie ( RITTER 1971-2007) p. 3.1131

    HINTERFRAGEN

  • Historisches Woerterbuch der Philosophie ( RITTER 1971-2007) p. 7.1399

  • Handbuch der lateinischen und griechischen Synonymik ( SCHMIDT 1889) p. 14

  • 王力古漢語字典 ( WANG LI 2000) p. 1273

    問,訊,詰

  • 王力古漢語字典 ( WANG LI 2000) p. 1287

    咨,諮,詢

  • The Encyclopedia of Philosophy ( BORCHERT 2005) p. 10.32

    QUESTION

  • SYNONYMES FRANÇOIS, LEURS DIFFÉRENTES SIGNIFICATIONS, ET LE CHOIX QU'IL EN FAUT FAIRE Pour parler avec justesse ( GIRARD 1769) p. 1.219.181

    QUESTIONNER.INTERROGER.DEMANDER

  • Handbook of Greek Synonymes, from the French of M. Alex. Pillon, Librarian of the Bibliothèque Royale , at Paris, and one of the editors of the new edition of Plaché's Dictionnaire Grec-Français, edited, with notes, by the Rev. Thomas Kerchever Arnold, M.A. Rector of Lyndon, and late fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge ( PILLON 1850) p. no.226/7

  • Bibliographisches Handbuch zur Sprachinhaltsforschung. Teil II. Systematischer Teil. B. Ordnung nach Sinnbezirken (mit einem alphabetischen Begriffsschluessel): Der Mensch und seine Welt im Spiegel der Sprachforschung ( FRANKE 1989) p. 76B

  • Words (32 items)

      wèn OC: mɯns MC: mi̯un 383 Attributions

    The general word is wèn 問 "open a dialogue by consulting someone with a question" (ant. duì 對 "reply to a superior") which typically refers to the consultation of a person who is supposed to know something, and typically the person to whom a question is addressed is regarded in the context as an authority though not necessarily a person of superior status. Thus the word, while extremely common, is not really a general word for "to ask". [SPECIFIC]; [[COMMOM+]]

      Syntactic words
    • DELETEask (a person) about something contextually determinate 問於曾子
    • nab.tquestion for N
    • nab.t:(+prep+N)questions to a contextually determinate interlocutor
    • nab.t:+prep+Nacta question directed at N
    • nabact大哉問form of words used to ask a question; question uttered
    • vt(oN)切問而近思 conduct consultations of one who are supposed to know
    • vt(oN)imperativeask about the contextually determinate matter N
    • vt(oN.)+Vask a contextually determinate person (and say...) 
    • vt(oS)ask the contextually determinate question 又問
    • vt+prep+Nask questions of 問於
    • vt+prep+N.+vtoS問於莊子曰 ask N the question SCH
    • vt+prep+N.adV問於N曰 ZHUANG 問乎N曰
    • vt+prep+Nobject=matterask about (a subject matter)
    • vt.postNask about N 每事問
    • vt[0]+V[0]subject=indefiniteIt is asked, the question arose:... (with an irrelevant omitted indefinite subject)
    • vt[oN]ask advice about things; ask questions, be inquisitiveLZ
    • vtoN.+VN=interlocutorask interlocutor N and say: 問師曠曰
    • vtoN.+VN=subject matterasked about N (and said) 問之曰
    • vtoNab[act]ask about Xing 問為仁
    • vtoNN=informationto ask for relevant information about 問其故, 問他
    • vtoNN=questionask the question N 問話
    • vtoNobject=interlocutorconsult an interlocutor 問知"ask those who know"
    • vtoNobject=problemask about (something or someone to be discussed) 問政
    • vtoNPab{S}ask about (with mostly nominalised sentential object) 問其所以異
    • vtoNpassivebe asked about 未可問
    • vtoSobject=speechask and say (: "...", with direct object without yuē 曰)
    • vtt(oN.)+Sask the contextually determinate interlocutor N the question SDS
    • vtt(oN1.)( prep N)ask the contextually determinate person N1 questions concerning the topic N2CH
    • vtt(oN1.)+N2N2=interlocutorask N2 about the contextually determinate N1 問左右
    • vtt(oN1.)+prep+N2:+Vask N2 about the contextually determinate matter N1 問焉曰:
    • vtt(oN1.)+prep+N2omto ask (somebody N2) about something contextually determinate N1 問於孔子
    • vtt+prep+N.oSask the question S of N 問於N: S
    • vttoN.+Squotationask the question S of interlocutor N 問N:
    • vttoN1(.+N2)consult (a person N2) about a determinate thing N1
    • vttoN1.+N2ask N2 about N1問之仲尼
    • vttoN1.+prep+N2ask someone N2 about something N1 問孝於我
    • vttoN1.+prep+N2:adVtoS問N1於N2曰
    • vttoN1.+prep+N2N2=matterto ask an interlocutor N1 about the matter N2DS
    請問  qǐng wèn OC: tsheŋʔ mɯns MC: tshiɛŋ mi̯un 54 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPt+.Vt[0]oSask the question S
    • VPt[0]oNmay I ask about N
    • VPt[0]oNabmay I ask about the abstract subject N
    • VPt[0]oNab{S}may I ask about the abstract subject Nab
    • VPt[0]oSmay I ask
    • VPt[oN]ask questions
    • VPtoNask about N
    • VPtoSask the question S
    • VPtt+prep+N.oSask the question S of N
      yuē OC: ɢʷad MC: ɦi̯ɐt 48 Attributions

    Yuē 曰 is regularly used to introduce related questions as reactions within an ongoing dialogue.

      Syntactic words
    • vtoSgo on to say (i.e. ask); say (in the form of a question) in the process of a conversation
    問曰  wèn yuē OC: mɯns ɢʷad MC: mi̯un ɦi̯ɐt 32 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPtt(+N)oSnew (phase of) dialogueto ask (followed by direct speech)al introduces a new dialogue, or a new phase in a dialogue, and it functions thus like something of a complex structural marker of the large context in which it occurs [the idiom is not explained in 漢語大詞典 or any current grammars...待考]
    敢問  gǎn wèn OC: klaamʔ mɯns MC: kɑm mi̯un 28 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPt[0]oNmay I ask about N
    • VPt[0]oSI venture to ask S
      qǐng OC: tsheŋʔ MC: tshiɛŋ 13 Attributions

    Qǐng 請 is occasionally used to refer to polite requests for information. [[RARE]]

      Syntactic words
    • vtoNask for information about
    • vtoNN=humanconsult politely
    • vtoSask about the proposition SCH
    • vtoV[0]same subjectmay I ask the question about my doing VCH
    • vttoN1.+N2ask (someone N1) for information about (a subject N2)
    • vttoN1.+prep+N2ask N2's advice about N1
      xún OC: sqʷlin MC: sʷin 10 Attributions

    Xún 詢 typically refers to questions addressed to inferiors. [DESCENDING], [OFFICIAL]

      Word relations
    • Conv: 對/ANSWER The dominant general word for responding to something that has been addressed to one is duì 對(converse wèi 謂 "address"), but that word usually refers to a reply directed at a superior who has put a question or occasionally a response to a statement by a superior. [ASCENDING], [GENERAL]

      Syntactic words
    • vt+prep+Nask for advice
    • vtoNseek or survey the opinions of (so as to consult with)
      zī OC: sti MC: tsi
      zī OC: sti MC: tsi 8 Attributions

    Zī 諮/咨 refers to questions addressed to a specialist. [SPECIFIC]

      Syntactic words
    • nabactasking questions (of a specialist)
    • vt+prep+Nconsult N
    • vtoNconsult; seek the opinion of (typically an important personality), engage in strategic deliberations together with to solicit advice to be used in strategic deliberation � the person one asks in this way does not participate in the deliberations proper but is of high status
    • vtoNN=topicask about
    • vtpostN{OBJ}ask the advice of, consult N
      fǎng OC: phaŋs MC: phi̯ɐŋ 7 Attributions

    Fǎng 訪 typically refers to questioning addressed to superiors. [ASCENDING]

      Syntactic words
    • vt+prep+Nsolicit information from
    • vt[oN]solicit opinions (among one or more people not specified)
    • vtoNsolicit information politely from; ask (someone)for advice
    • vttoN1.+prep+N2solicit opinions (about something N1) from (someone N2) 穆公訪諸蹇叔
    問訊  wèn xùn OC: mɯns sɯns MC: mi̯un sin 6 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNask about; ask (somebody)
    • VPtt(oN.)+Sask S of N
    • vt[oN]interrogate; make inquiries
    • vtt(oN1.)+N2ask the contextually determinate N1 about N2
    問言  wèn yán OC: mɯns ŋan MC: mi̯un ŋi̯ɐn 6 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoSquotationask: S
      gào OC: kuuɡs MC: kɑu 5 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vtoN.+VtoSaddress (someone) (saying/asking: "....?")
      wèi OC: ɢuds MC: ɦɨi 3 Attributions

    Wèi 謂 may introduce what are in fact questions rather than statements.

      Syntactic words
    • vtoN.+VtoSaddress someone (with a question)
    問話  wèn huà OC: mɯns ɡroods MC: mi̯un ɦɣɛi 3 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPadNasking questions
    • VPiactask questions
      jié OC: khid MC: khit 2 Attributions

      Word relations
    • Contrast: 難/ASK Nàn 難 is to ask intellectually hostile questions regarding something which the person questioned has said or maintains as true, to make objections. See DISAGREE [SPECIFIC]

      Syntactic words
    • nabtextquestion; objection
    • vtoNinquire about (a matter)CH
    • vtoNquestion (a person)CH
      yán OC: ŋan MC: ŋi̯ɐn 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vtoSask: "..."
      jū OC: sko MC: tsi̯o 1 Attribution

    Zōu 諏 all refer to some kind of official soliciting of formal opinions. [OFFICIAL]; [[RARE]]

      Syntactic words
    • nabactasking??
    • vtoNask the opinion of someone (particularly concerning a factual matter)
      zé OC: skreeɡ MC: ʈʂɣɛk 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vtoNdemand to know about (possibly incriminatory facts)
    訪問  fǎng wèn OC: phaŋs mɯns MC: phi̯ɐŋ mi̯un 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPt+prep+Nconsult with N
    致問  zhì wèn OC: k-liɡs mɯns MC: ʈi mi̯un 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPiactask questions
    發問  fā wèn OC: pod mɯns MC: pi̯ɐt mi̯un 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPiactput a question; ask a question [DCD]
    請曰  qǐng yuē MC: tshjengX hjwot OC: tsheŋʔ ɢʷad 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoSask the question SCH
    下問  xià wèn OC: ɢraaʔ mɯns MC: ɦɣɛ mi̯un 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPiactconsult others of lower status
    顧問  gù wèn OC: klaas mɯns MC: kuo̝ mi̯un 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoN.+VtoSturn to N and ask...
    歸問  guī wèn OC: klul mɯns MC: kɨi mi̯un 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPt(oN)turn to for advice about a contextually determinate matter
    仰問  yǎng wèn OC: ŋaŋʔ mɯns MC: ŋi̯ɐŋ mi̯un 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoSquotationask politely
      qiú OC: ɡu MC: gɨu 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vtoNask advice of; consult
      nàn OC: mɢlaans MC: nɑn 0 Attributions

    Nàn 難 is to ask intellectually hostile questions regarding something which the person questioned has said or maintains as true, to make objections. See DISAGREE [SPECIFIC]

      Syntactic words
    • vt[oN]question in a hostile manner; make objections in the form of questions SEE CRITICISE SJ 81/2447嘗與其父奢言兵事,奢不能難,然不謂善。
    問於  wèn yú OC: mɯns qa MC: mi̯un ʔi̯ɤ 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    禱請  dǎo qǐng OC: tuuʔ tsheŋʔ MC: tɑu tshiɛŋ 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    諮詢  zī xún OC: sti sqʷlin MC: tsi sʷin 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNask the opinion of
    質問  zhì wèn OC: tjid mɯns MC: tɕit mi̯un 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNask for advice; consult to get things straight