Comparing "dating" and "wen"
Both 打听 and 问 are both verbs that mean to ask about. Both can be used in informal and formal settings. A key difference between these two is that 打听 can only be used to ask about general conditions or inquires, whereas 问 can be used in this sense and also used to directly ask the person you are talking to a question.
| 打听 (dǎting) | 问 (wèn) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | to ask about | to ask about, to ask, to send regards |
| Part of Speech | verb | verb |
| Formality | flexible | flexible |
Contents
To say to ask about both 打听 and 问 can be used.
This is used when asking about general conditions or inquiries, think the English phrase “I would like to ask.”
Common Phrases
- ～一下
- ～～
- ～消息
To directly ask the person you are talking to a question use 问.
Common Phrases
- 问一个问题
- 问你
- 问老师
To say to send my regards to someone or to inquire after someone use 问
Think about the English phrase “say hi to (your family, a friend, etc.) for me”, this is essentially the same meaning.
Common Patterns
- 向……（someone)问候
- 向……（someone)问候
