Definition
借问 is a polite formula from classical Chinese, equivalent to 'may I ask?' or 'excuse me, could you tell me…?'. It appears in formal writing, historical fiction, or when a speaker deliberately adopts a literary tone. Unlike the everyday 请问 (qǐngwèn), 借问 carries a slight archaic or courteous flavor and is rarely used in casual conversation.
f.e.
(polite formula, literary) may I ask?excuse mecould you tell me?
Examples
- 借问，？jiè wèn, cǐ chù lí jīngchéng hái yǒu duō yuǎn?May I ask how far it is from here to the capital?
- 借问，？jiè wèn, géxià zūn xìng dà míng?May I ask your honorable name, sir?
- 借问，？jiè wèn, cǐ lù tōng wǎng hé chù?Excuse me, where does this road lead to?
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