SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/zh-excuse-me-may-i-ask

You want to ask a stranger a question. What polite phrase do you start with in Mandarin?

Qǐngwèn (请问), excuse me, may I ask...?

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  1. duìbuqǐ (对不起)
  2. qǐngwèn (请问) ✔
  3. zàijiàn (再见)

Why: Qǐngwèn literally means 'please ask' and opens any question: qǐngwèn, cèsuǒ zài nǎr? Duìbuqǐ is an apology and zàijiàn is goodbye.

Huh, didn't know that: Peace Corps uses qǐngwèn to start asking someone's name, a price and the way to the hospital.

The dad joke
Qǐngwèn is my favorite word. It turns 'Hey you!' into 'Excuse me, kind sir!' in two syllables.
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References

Answer: qǐngwèn (请问). Qǐngwèn literally means 'please ask' and opens any question: qǐngwèn, cèsuǒ zài nǎr? Duìbuqǐ is an apology and zàijiàn is goodbye.

  1. MDBG Chinese Dictionary (CC-CEDICT): 请问 www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdrst=0&wdqb=%E8%AF%B7%E9%97%AE
    Excuse me, may I ask...?
    Checked 2026-10-12.
  2. Peace Corps China, Chinese Basic Lessons for Invitees (Mandarin) files.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/audio/languagelessons/thepeoplesrepublicofchina/CN_Mandarin_Language_Lessons.pdf
    May I ask your name?
    Checked 2026-10-12.

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That's stuff everyone should know.