尋ねる
VERB
(1)
[/t͡ɕiɳ͍zeɾɯ̥ᵝ/ja-JP]
to inquire
literal
/
to ask
literal
/
to query
literal
/
to investigate
contextual
/
to seek for information
untranslatable
(The phrase represents a broader action that may not have a single, concise English equivalent.)
To inquire, ask, or seek information, guidance, or directions. This verb implies a more deliberate and often polite act of seeking knowledge, understanding, or a specific answer, rather than just a casual question. It encompasses the idea of 'seeking out' or 'investigating' a matter to gain clarity or find something specific, such as a person or place.
五段活用 (go-dan katsuyou)
| negative | past | present | te_form |
|---|---|---|---|
| 尋ねない | 尋ねた | 尋ねる | 尋ねて |
- 道に迷ったので、地元の人に道を尋ねた。 — Since I got lost, I asked a local person for directions.
- 警察は事件の真相を尋ねるために、目撃者から話を聞いた。 — The police interviewed witnesses to investigate the truth of the incident.
register: formal