wèn

ask (about)

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Components
口 meaning component

  Meaning component

kǒu

  

mouth

門 sound component

  Sound component

mén

  

door

Evolution

問 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
問 Bronze script Mid Warring States (~300 BC)

Bronze script

Mid Warring States (~300 BC)
問 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
問 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
問 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

() 

wèn

ask (about), inquire after; to ask

Most common words with 問
Freq.
Word
Meaning

问题

question

to ask

访问

to visit

询问

to inquire

请问

Excuse me, may I ask...?