TSUMUGU · TOCFL 1 (est.) · 字
問
ㄨㄣˋ · wèn
verb — to ask
字源 FORM — what the parts do
{m,w}ITmén → wèn — m softens to w; the same 門 turns wén in 聞
A mouth (口) does the asking; the door (門) lends only its sound, mén worn soft to wèn — the same door reads wén in 聞. The picture of a mouth at the gate comes free.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
站在門（門）外，開口（口）問：請問有人在嗎？
At the door (門), a mouth (口) opens: anyone home?
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)問、請問— to ask常用
→問候、慰問— to ask after — to greet, console
→學問— learning — what asking builds
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension