How to Write 问 (wèn) — Meaning “to ask”

Imagine a door (门) with a mouth (口) inside it asking, "Can I come in?" That mouth is literally asking a question. This visual helps you remember that 问 means "to ask."

Write the outer radical 门 first: left vertical stroke, top horizontal, then right hook. Then add the small 口 centered inside. A common mistake is making the 口 too large or touching the door frame, so keep it small and properly spaced.

闩 (shuān) means "bolt" and has a horizontal bar inside the door, not a mouth. 闪 (shǎn) means "dodge" or "flash" and contains a person (人) inside. 问 has a mouth (口) inside, so it is tied to speaking and asking.

问 is used in common phrases like 问题 (question/problem), 问好 (say hello), and 请问 (excuse me, may I ask). In Chinese culture, asking questions politely with 请问 shows respect and a genuine desire to learn.

Common words containing 问 include: 问题 (wèn tí) — question / problem / issue; 问好 (wèn hǎo) — to say hello / to send regards; 请问 (qǐng wèn) — Excuse me / May I ask?.