Definition

Verb: - To inquire after, to ask after: To ask questions about someone's situation, health, or well-being, typically to show care, concern, or a desire for information. It implies a more detailed or caring inquiry than a simple question. - To ask about, to make inquiries: To seek information or news about something or someone through questioning.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy gọi điện để hỏi han sức khỏe của bà ngoại. (She called to inquire after her grandmother's health.)
  • Anh ấy luôn hỏi han tình hình công việc của tôi. (He always asks about my work situation.)
  • Họ ngồi lại hỏi han nhau về cuộc sống sau nhiều năm không gặp. (They sat down to ask after each other's lives after many years apart.)

Advanced Usage

• The verb "hỏi han" often carries a connotation of warmth, politeness, and social courtesy. It is commonly used in contexts of reunions, checking on loved ones, or showing polite interest.
• It can be used with objects like (news), (health), (work), or (family).

Variants and Related Words

• Hỏi thăm (v): A close synonym, meaning to ask after someone, often used interchangeably with .
  • Tôi đến để hỏi thăm ông chủ. (I came to ask after the boss.)
• Thăm hỏi (v): To visit and ask after someone, combining the ideas of visiting and inquiring.
  • Đoàn công tác đi thăm hỏi các gia đình chính sách. (The working group visited and inquired after families of war veterans.)

Synonyms

• To inquire after: To ask about someone's state, especially their health.
• To ask about: To seek information concerning someone or something.
• To check on (someone): To make sure someone is okay or to monitor their condition.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Hỏi han qua loa: To ask perfunctorily, without genuine interest or detail.
  • Anh ta chỉ hỏi han qua loa rồi đi ngay. (He only asked perfunctorily and then left immediately.)
• Hỏi han đầu đuôi: To ask about the whole story from beginning to end.
  • Cảnh sát hỏi han đầu đuôi sự việc. (The police inquired about the incident from start to finish.)

verb

1. to inquire after, to ask after