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How to Say ‘Ask you first’ in Traditional Chinese

先問你一聲

xiān wèn nǐ yī shēng

[shyen wèn nǐ ee shēng]

💬 Usage Tip: Adding 一聲 (yì shēng) after 問你 makes it "give you a quick ask", which softens the request. 說一聲 works the same way: "just let someone know".

Phrase Breakdown

先問你

xiān wèn nǐ

ask you first

先 (xiān) before a verb means 'first'. 問你 means 'ask you'.

Example

我先問你一件事。

Let me ask you something first.

Words in this phrase

先

xiān

[shyen]

first; in advance

Indicates doing something first, before another action. Useful in planning or polite requests.

Example

我先訂位，晚一點再確認人數。

I'll make the reservation first, then confirm the number of people later.

問

wèn

[wèn]

ask

To put a question to someone.

Example

我想問你一個問題。

I want to ask you a question.

你

nǐ

[nǐ]

you

Refers to the person being spoken to.

Example

你今天看起來很高興。

You look happy today.

一聲

yī shēng

a word / briefly

一聲 (yì shēng) means 'one word', i.e. a quick mention. 一 changes to fourth tone here.

Example

說一聲就好。

Just let me know.

Words in this phrase

一

yī

[ee]

one; a

A number word that helps form the phrase for category.

Example

你想找哪一類工作？

What kind of job do you want to look for?

聲

shēng

[shēng]

sound; a word (measure for utterances)

In 一聲, means a quick word or mention.

Example

出門前說一聲。

Let me know before you go out.

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