may I ask; (polite) excuse me for asking
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
may I ask; excuse me for asking (polite)
honorificA very polite way to begin a question, similar to "Excuse me, could you tell me..." or "Pardon me, may I ask..."
Jiè借
wèn问
zhè这
lǐ里
lí离
chéng城
hái还
yǒu有
duō多
yuǎn远
？
May I ask, how far is it from here to the city?
Jiè借
wèn问
yī一
xià下
，
fù附
jìn近
yǒu有
yóu邮
jú局
ma吗
？
Excuse me for asking, is there a post office nearby?
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Lǎo老
xiān先
sheng生
，
jiè借
wèn问
cǐ此
huà画
shì是
nín您
suǒ所
zuò作
ma吗
？
Sir, may I ask if this painting was done by you?
“
Jiè借
wèn问
jiǔ酒
jiā家
hé何
chù处
yǒu有
，
mù牧
tóng童
yáo遥
zhǐ指
xìng杏
huā花
cūn村
。
”
"May I ask where I can find an inn? The shepherd boy points to Apricot Blossom Village in the distance."