对不起
duìbuqǐ
I'm sorry
How to say "excuse me, may I ask" in Chinese
请问
qǐngwèn
Excuse me, may I ask…
Character breakdown
Grammar and structure
This is a fixed polite expression: 请 (qǐng) means 'please' and 问 (wèn) means 'ask'. Together it literally means 'please ask', but it functions as a polite way to preface any question.
Variations and politeness
请教
qǐngjiào
to consult; to ask for advice — More formal, often used in academic or respectful contexts.
问一下
wèn yīxià
to ask a quick question — More casual and less formal than 请问.
Mini dialogue
A
请问，洗手间在哪里？
qǐngwèn, xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?
Excuse me, where is the restroom?
B
在那边，左转就到了。
zài nàbiān, zuǒ zhuǎn jiù dào le.
It's over there; turn left and you'll be there.
When to use it
Appropriate
- When you need to ask a stranger for directions or information.
- When speaking to service staff, such as in a restaurant or shop.
- When you want to politely interrupt someone to ask a question.
Avoid when
- When talking to close friends or family; it would sound overly formal.
- When the question is not a request for information, such as a rhetorical question.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'Excuse me, may I ask...' in Chinese?
You can say 请问 (qǐngwèn) at the beginning of your question.
How do you pronounce 请问?
It is pronounced qǐngwèn, with the third tone on qǐng and the fourth tone on wèn.
When should I use 请问?
Use it when asking a question to someone you don't know well or in a formal situation to be polite.
More phrases for this situation
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