Chinese phrase
请问〜 qǐng wèn 〜
Meaning
May I ask ___?
When to use it
This politely starts a question or request for information. It is common in polite conversation, especially with someone unfamiliar or in a formal setting.
Example dialogue
请问今天下午的会议几点开始？ qǐng wèn jīn tiān xià wǔ de huì yì jí diǎn kāi shǐ
Excuse me, what time does the meeting start this afternoon?
下午两点在一号会议室开始。 xià wǔ liáng diǎn zài yí hào huì yì shì kāi shǐ
The meeting starts at 2:00 p.m. in Meeting Room 1.