Chinese Conversation · Level 39
90 words
Chinese word
问候
Pronunciation
Pinyinwèn hòu
Meaning
- verbgreet
Example
上课前他会问候学生们。shàng kè qián tā huì wèn hòu xué shēng men
Before class, he greets the students.
More examples
她每天早上都会给父母打电话问候一下。tā měi tiān zǎo shàng dū huì gěi fù mǔ dǎ diàn huà wèn hòu yí xià
Every morning, she calls her parents to greet them.
Core concept
A gesture of care or goodwill that reaches someone through speech, writing, or another person.
Common phrases
向家人问候xiàng jiā rén wèn hòu
greet one's family
互相问候hù xiāng wèn hòu
greet one another
问候朋友wèn hòu péng yǒu
greet friends
Similar words
打招呼dǎ zhāo hū: Say a brief greeting to someone when meeting them.
问好wèn hǎo: Express a greeting or good wishes to someone in words.
致意zhì yì: Offer a respectful or courteous greeting through words or actions.
慰问wèi wèn: Express sympathy and encouragement to someone who is ill or has suffered trouble.
Definition in Chinese
通过口头、书面或托人转达的方式向别人表示关怀或致意，既可当面说也可代为转述。tōng guò kǒu tóu shū miàn huò tuō rén zhuǎn dá de fāng shì xiàng bié rén biǎo shì guān huái huò zhì yì jì kě dāng miàn shuō yě kě dài wéi zhuǎn shù
Word origin
问 (wèn, "ask") + 候 (hòu, "check on someone's well-being") presents a greeting as asking after another person's condition, which explains its sense of expressing concern.
Usage tips
- English speakers often hear "greet" as something done in person, but this Chinese word also covers regards sent in writing or through a messenger, making "send regards" a useful context-based choice.
Other meanings
- greetingnoun
Opposites
- 忽视hū shìignoreverb
- 冷落lěng luòtreat coldlyverb
Related words
- 问候语wèn hòu yǔgreetingnoun
- 问候信wèn hòu xìngreeting letternoun