問う

とう
Alternative writings: 訪う
JLPT:N1
Frequency:
1

To ask; to inquire — to pose a question to someone to obtain information.

U-VerbTransitive Verb

Examples

先生に授業の内容について問うた。

I asked the teacher about the lesson content.

その点についてさらに詳しく問いたい。

I want to ask in more detail about that point.

面接で志望動機を問われた。

I was asked about my motivation for applying in the interview.

2

To blame or accuse someone; to pursue questions of responsibility or fault.

U-VerbTransitive Verb

Examples

事故の原因を会社側に問う声が上がった。

Voices rose asking the company about the cause of the accident.

彼は同僚のミスをあからさまに問うた。

He openly reproached his colleague for the mistake.

3

To care about or consider important. Often used in the negative (e.g., 〜を問わない) meaning 'regardless of' or 'without regard to.'

U-VerbTransitive Verb

Examples

年齢を問わず応募できます。

You can apply regardless of age.

経験の有無は問わない。

Whether you have experience or not does not matter.

4

To call into question; to doubt or challenge the validity or legitimacy of something. Often appears in passive constructions.

U-VerbTransitive Verb

Examples

彼の行為は倫理的に問われるだろう。

His actions will likely be called into question ethically.

その決定は裁判で問われることになった。

That decision came to be questioned in court.

Word Relationships

Antonym
Derivations
Masu-Form問います
Nai-Form問わない
Ta-Form問った
Te-Form問って
Ba-Form問えば
Volitional Form問おう
Imperative Form問え
Potential Form問える
Passive Form問われる
Causative Form問わせる
Causative Passive Form問わせられる