問
question · ask · problem
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
surround from above: gate + mouth
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of gate and mouth. Knocking on gate to ask.
Symbolism
Question, problem, visit. Represents inquiry and exploration.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
一問一答
いちもんいっとう
answering question by question; answering question by question
問答無用
もんどうむよう
there being no use in arguing (about it); not up for discussion; there being no use in arguing (about it)
自問自答
じもんじとう
answering one's own question; wondering to oneself; soliloquizing; answering one's own question
愚問愚答
ぐもんぐとう
silly questions and silly answers; silly dialogue; silly questions and silly answers
問答無益
もんどうむえき
there being no use in arguing (about it); not up for discussion; there being no use in arguing (about it)
蒟蒻問答
こんにゃくもんどう
irrelevant and incoherent dialogue; meaningless parlor debate; dialogue at cross purposes; irrelevant and incoherent dialogue
外題学問
げだいがくもん
putting on a knowing air when one only knows the title of the book (play, etc.); pretending to understand the nature of something when one only knows its name; putting on a knowing air when one only knows the title of the book (play, etc.)
Poetry
しのぶれど 色に出でにけり わが恋は 物や思ふと 人の問ふまで
Poem #40 from Hyakunin Isshu