请问

Learning Chinese: How to Say "Excuse Me" in Chinese

Chinese Characters: 请问
Pinyin: qǐng wèn
Pronunciation: ching3 wen4
English Translation: Excuse me

Usage:

"请问 (qǐng wèn)" is a polite way to get someone's attention or to ask a question in Chinese. It can be used in a variety of situations, such as:

• Asking for directions
• Asking for help
• Making a request
• Interrupting someone

Example:

Chinese: 请问，厕所在哪里？
Pinyin: Qǐng wèn, cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ?
English: Excuse me, where is the bathroom?

Variations:

There are a few variations of "请问 (qǐng wèn)" that you may hear:

• 对不起 (duì bù qǐ): A more formal way to get someone's attention, similar to "excuse me" in English.
• 打扰一下 (dǎrǎo yīxià): Another polite way to get someone's attention, literally meaning "打扰一下 (disturb you for a moment)."

Tips for Learning:

• Practice saying "请问 (qǐng wèn)" out loud to improve your pronunciation.
• Listen to native Chinese speakers saying "excuse me" to get a sense of the natural rhythm and intonation.
• Use "请问 (qǐng wèn)" in your daily conversations to practice using it in context.

Additional Notes:

• "请问 (qǐng wèn)" is typically used when addressing a stranger or someone you don't know well.
• When asking a question, it is common to follow "请问 (qǐng wèn)" with the question word "吗 (ma)". For example, "请问，厕所在哪里吗？ (Qǐng wèn, cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ ma?)" means "Excuse me, where is the bathroom?"
• In some regions of China, people may also use "不好意思 (bù hǎo yìsi)" to say "excuse me."