Word Guide
How to pronounce 请问 (qǐng wèn)
请问 means "excuse me; may I ask". Use this guide to lock in the tone pattern, articulation target, and the mistake most learners still make.
Short answer
请问 is pronounced qǐng wèn and means "excuse me; may I ask". The key target is palatal, with the tone pattern Tone 3 + Tone 4.
Why learners miss it
Learners often miss 请问 because q often slips backward and sounds too much like ch.
Self-test
Record 请问, then check whether your pitch contour and articulation match qǐng wèn.
Pinyin
qǐng wèn
Tone Pattern
Tone 3 + Tone 4
Pronunciation Focus
palatal
How to say it
Guided fix
How to shape this pronunciation
What to do
Say qǐng slowly first, then keep the target sound steady as you move through the rest of 请问.
What to avoid
Do not let the whole word flatten into one rushed shape. Keep the target consonant or tone contrast clear.
What to listen for
The key sound should stay distinct instead of collapsing toward the nearest easy English habit.
Quick self-check
Say qǐng wèn once slowly and once at normal speed. If the target sound disappears when you speed up, it is not stable yet.
Phonetic Breakdown
q+ing_w+en
Most common error
Error summary
q often slips backward and sounds too much like ch.
Focus area
Palatal
Difficulty
Easy
HSK Level
HSK1