🙋❓

How to Say ‘I'd like to ask something.’ in Simplified Chinese

我想问一下。

wǒ xiǎng wèn yī xià

[wo shyang wèn ee-shyah]

💬 Usage Tip: 一下 (yí xià) after an action softens it to "just quickly", which makes the request sound politer. Note that 一 is read (yí) before the falling tone of 下.

Phrase Breakdown

我想

wǒ xiǎng

I'd like to

我 (I) + 想 (want to, would like). Both are third tone, so 我 changes to the second tone: wó xiǎng.

Example

我想喝水。

I'd like some water.

Words in this phrase

我

wǒ

[wo]

The speaker referring to themselves.

Example

我明天有空。

I am free tomorrow.

想

xiǎng

[shyang]

to want; to think

Often means “to want” when followed by a verb, useful for polite questions and intentions.

Example

我想多听听贵公司的介绍。

I would like to hear more about your company’s introduction.

问一下。

wèn yī xià

ask something

问 (ask) + 一下 (briefly; softens the request). 一 changes to the second tone before fourth-tone 下: wèn yíxià.

Example

我问一下老师。

I'll ask the teacher.

Words in this phrase

问

wèn

[wèn]

to ask

To pose a question or inquire about something.

Example

我想问一个问题。

I want to ask a question.

一下

yī xià

[ee-shyah]

a little; briefly

Softens the tone, making a request sound lighter and more polite.

Example

方便让我了解一下贵公司的文化吗？

Would it be convenient to let me learn a little about your company culture?

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