How to translate “to ask” depends on the mean - Cchatty

How to translate “to ask” depends on the meaning of “ask”: wèn 问 vs. qǐng 请 vs. jiào 叫


To “ask” (a question) or “inquire,” use wèn 问：

I asked him whether you were coming or not.
✔ CC: Wǒ wèn tā nǐ lái bùlái.
我问他你来不来。
✖ BC: Wǒ wènle tā nǐ lái bùlái.
我问了他你来不来。

To “ask/invite” (someone to do something), use qǐng 请：

I asked/invited her to eat dinner with me.
Wǒ qǐng tā gēn wǒ chī wǎnfàn.
我请她跟我吃晚饭。

To “ask/tell” (somebody to do something), use jiào 叫:

I asked my little sister to phone me:
Wǒ jiào wǒ mèimei gěi wǒ dǎ diànhua.
我叫我妹妹给我打电话。

NOTE: jiào 叫 is only used in regard to people who are younger or in a lower social position than the person asking or telling them to do something. It therefore cannot be used to ask or tell a parent, teacher, boss, or official to do something. In those cases, qǐng 请 would be used.

I asked my mother to call (phone) me.
✔ CC: Wǒ qǐng wǒ māma gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.
我请我妈妈给我打电话。
✖ BC: Wǒ jiào wǒ māma gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.
我叫我妈妈给我打电话。