How to say "excuse me, may I ask" in Chinese

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.

Use 请问 at the start of a question to show politeness, especially when addressing strangers or people in service roles. It's like saying 'Excuse me, may I ask…' in English. Don't use it with close friends; it would sound overly formal. A common mistake is using it in the middle of a sentence—it should always come first.