inquire
word
Definition
To ask for information about something, often in a polite or formal way.
Usage & Nuances
'Inquire' is formal; its informal counterpart is 'ask.' Used in business, official contexts, or written English. Common patterns: 'inquire about,' 'inquire into.' Don't confuse with 'enquire'—they are often interchangeable, but 'inquire' is more common in American English.
Spanish: preguntar - averiguar - consultarPortuguese (BR): perguntar - indagarPortuguese (PT): perguntar - indagarChinese (Simplified): 询问 - 查询Chinese (Traditional): 詢問 - 查詢Hindi: पूछना - जानकारी लेनाArabic: يستفسر - يسألBengali: জানতে চাওয়া - খোঁজ নেওয়াRussian: спрашивать - узнавать (формально)Japanese: 問い合わせる - 尋ねる (ていねい)Vietnamese: hỏi thăm - hỏi (trang trọng)Korean: 문의하다 - 질문하다 (공식적)Turkish: soruşturmak - bilgi almak (resmî olarak)Urdu: دریافت کرنا - دریافت پوچھنا (رسمی)Indonesian: menanyakan - meminta informasi (dengan sopan/formal)
Example Sentences
I would like to inquire about the price of this product.
basic
She called to inquire about her job application.
basic
You can inquire at the front desk for more information.
basic
He decided to inquire further when something seemed suspicious.
natural
If you inquire within, someone will help you.
natural
Many customers inquire about our return policy.
natural