A1 Collocation محايد

先生に聞く

sensei ni kiku

Ask a teacher

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this phrase to politely ask a question or seek information from an instructor or mentor.

  • Means: To ask a question to a teacher or superior.
  • Used in: Classrooms, office meetings, or when seeking professional advice.
  • Don't confuse: Using '聞く' for 'listening' vs 'asking' (context determines meaning).
Student + Question Mark + Teacher = Knowledge gained

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means to ask your teacher a question. Use it when you do not understand something in class.
You use '先生に聞く' to seek information from an instructor. It is a very common way to show you are trying to learn and need help with your studies.
This collocation is essential for students. It combines the target '先生' with the particle 'ni' and the verb 'kiku'. It signifies a respectful inquiry directed toward someone in a position of authority or pedagogical expertise.
Beyond simple inquiry, '先生に聞く' functions as a social strategy to maintain the teacher-student hierarchy. By using the particle 'ni', the speaker acknowledges the teacher as the source of knowledge, which is a fundamental aspect of Japanese classroom etiquette.
Linguistically, this phrase demonstrates the polysemy of 'kiku'. While it literally means 'to hear', in this collocation, it shifts to 'to inquire'. The choice of 'ni' over 'o' is critical, as it denotes the recipient of the action rather than the direct object, reflecting the directional nature of knowledge transfer in Japanese culture.
The phrase '先生に聞く' encapsulates the cultural paradigm of 'shitei' (teacher-disciple) relations. The usage of the particle 'ni' establishes a dative relationship, positioning the teacher as the locus of information. This is not merely a request for data but a performative act of deference that reinforces the social structure inherent in Japanese educational institutions.

المعنى

To pose a question or seek information from an instructor.

🌍

خلفية ثقافية

Asking is a sign of respect for the teacher's knowledge. Asking is encouraged to show critical thinking.

💡

Use 'ni'

Always use 'ni' for the person you ask.

المعنى

To pose a question or seek information from an instructor.

💡

Use 'ni'

Always use 'ni' for the person you ask.

اختبر نفسك

Fill in the correct particle.

先生 ___ 聞く。

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: に

The particle 'ni' marks the target of the question.

🎉 النتيجة: /1

وسائل تعلم بصرية

الأسئلة الشائعة

1 أسئلة

No, use '友達に聞く'.

عبارات ذات صلة

🔄

先生に質問する

synonym

To ask a question to the teacher.

أين تستخدمها

🙋

Classroom confusion

Student: {先生|せんせい}、ここを{先生|せんせい}に{聞|き}いてもいいですか？

Teacher: はい、どうぞ。

neutral
🏫

After class

Student: {先生|せんせい}に{聞|き}きたいことがあります。

Teacher: 何ですか？

polite

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a student raising their hand to 'hear' (kiku) the teacher's wisdom.

Visual Association

Imagine a bright classroom. A student raises their hand, and the teacher smiles and walks over to explain.

Story

Ken was stuck on his math. He felt shy. He remembered: 'Ask the teacher!' He walked to the desk, asked, and finally understood. He felt great.

Word Web

質問教える勉強教室相談理解

تحدٍّ

Next time you have a question in class, use this phrase!

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Preguntar al profesor

Spanish 'preguntar' is specifically for asking, whereas Japanese 'kiku' is polysemous.

French high

Demander au professeur

French requires the preposition 'à' while Japanese uses the particle 'ni'.

German moderate

Den Lehrer fragen

German treats the teacher as a direct object, not an indirect one.

Japanese self

先生に聞く

This is the baseline for the comparison.

Arabic moderate

اسأل المعلم

Arabic does not use a preposition like 'ni' for this verb.

Easily Confused

先生に聞く مقابل 先生を聞く

Using 'o' instead of 'ni'.

Use 'ni' for the person you ask.

الأسئلة الشائعة (1)

No, use '友達に聞く'.

هل كان هذا مفيداً؟

التعليقات (0)

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