Definition

1. Verb:
   • To call out to someone and ask a question; to address someone with a question: The act of verbally getting someone's attention and then posing a question or inquiry to them. It implies a direct, often brief, verbal engagement initiated to seek information or a response.
   • To hail and inquire; to interrogate by calling: A formal or deliberate act of summoning someone (e.g., in a meeting, a public space, or a legal context) in order to ask them questions.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy gọi hỏi tôi đường đến bưu điện. (He called out to ask me for directions to the post office.)
  • Giám đốc gọi hỏi nhân viên về tiến độ dự án. (The director summoned and questioned the employee about the project's progress.)
  • Cảnh sát gọi hỏi người đàn ông đang đứng ở góc phố. (The police hailed and questioned the man standing on the street corner.)

Advanced Usage

• "gọi hỏi" in formal or official contexts: Often used to describe an authority figure (e.g., a manager, teacher, officer) formally calling upon someone to answer questions.
  • Chủ tịch hội đồng gọi hỏi các ứng viên. (The board chairman called upon and questioned the candidates.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gọi (verb): To call, to summon. The core action of getting attention.
• Hỏi (verb): To ask, to inquire. The core action of seeking information.
• Chất vấn (verb): To interrogate, to question (often in a challenging or official manner, like in a parliament). More formal and intense than "gọi hỏi".
• Hỏi thăm (verb): To ask after someone, to inquire about someone's well-being. Softer and more social than "gọi hỏi".

Synonyms

• Hỏi (to ask): A more general term for asking a question.
• Chất vấn (to interrogate, to question formally): Implies a formal or demanding line of questioning.
• Vấn (to question - literary/formal): An older or more literary term for asking.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Gọi lên hỏi: To call someone up (e.g., to the front of a room) to question them.
  • Giáo viên gọi học sinh lên hỏi bài. (The teacher called the student up to question them on the lesson.)

Related Idioms