问路
wèn lù · HSK 2
to ask for directions
❓🛣️ 问 (ask) + 路 (road) = ask the road = ask for directions
Compound of 问 wèn 'to ask' and 路 lù 'road/way'. Literally 'ask the road' — the standard verb-object pair for requesting directions from a stranger.
问 — gate 门 (phonetic) + mouth 口 (semantic)
问 is a phono-semantic compound. The 口 (mouth) on the inside gives the meaning—using the mouth to ask—while 门 (gate/door) supplies the sound, close to 'mén/wèn'. The traditional form 問 places 口 inside 門, vividly suggesting speaking through a doorway to inquire.
路 — foot 足 + each 各 (phonetic)
路 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The foot radical 足 on the left signals meaning related to walking or travel, while 各 on the right hints at the ancient pronunciation. Originally referring to a road traveled on foot, it broadened to mean 'road, path, route' in general.