inquire about ferry crossing; fig. ask about price or situation
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to inquire about the ferry crossing; (figurative) to ask about prices, situations, or opportunities
literaryDerived from the Analects (论语·微子): '使子路问津焉' (sent Zilu to ask where the ferry was). Commonly used in negative constructions such as 无人问津 (no one shows interest) or 不敢问津 (would not dare to ask).
Zhè这
zhǒng种
lěng冷
mén门
zhuān专
yè业
duō多
nián年
lái来
wú无
rén人
wèn问
jīn津
。
This unpopular major has attracted no inquiries for years.
Fáng房
jià价
tài太
guì贵
，
yī一
bān般
rén人
bù不
gǎn敢
wèn问
jīn津
。
The housing prices are too high for ordinary people to even ask about.
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Zhè这
bù部
gǔ古
shū书
jí极
wéi为
zhēn珍
guì贵
，
xún寻
cháng常
xué学
zhě者
bù不
gǎn敢
wèn问
jīn津
。
This ancient book is extremely precious, and ordinary scholars would not presume to inquire about it.
Gāi该
lǐng领
yù域
jì技
shù术
mén门
kǎn槛
guò过
gāo高
，
zhōng中
xiǎo小
xíng型
qǐ企
yè业
nán难
yǐ以
wèn问
jīn津
。
The technical barriers in this field are too high for small and medium-sized enterprises to enter.