“请问…” is a common polite expression not meaning “Please ask…”, but rather “May I ask…” or “Excuse me…”. People usually use this phrase to attract one’s attention before starting a question or a request.
请问 + Question
qǐngwèn, zhèlǐ shì túshūguǎn ma？
请问，这里是图书馆吗？
Excuse me. Is here the library?
qǐngwèn, wèishēngjiān zài nǎ’r？
请问，卫生间在哪儿？
Excuse me. Where is the bathroom please?
“请” can come before a verb, meaning “Please do something.”
请 + Verb
qǐng jìn.
请进。
Please come in.
qǐng zuò.
请坐。
Please sit.
Sentences with “是”
Subject + 是 + Noun
tā shì mínɡxīnɡ.
他是明星。
He is a star.
tā shì běijīnɡrén.
她是北京人。
She is a Beijinger.
Subject + 不是 + Noun
wǒ búshì lǎoshī.
我不是老师。
I am not a teacher.
tā búshì huàirén.
他不是坏人。
He is not a bad person.
Interrogative sentences using “吗”.
“吗” can be added to the end of a declarative sentence to make a question.
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