问津

問津

wènjīn

verb #71,028

Meanings

1 to show interest in; to inquire about
2 to ask the way to the ford

Characters

ford; ferry crossing

Examples

HSK 1

这家店的东西太贵，很少有人问津。

Zhè jiā diàn de dōngxi tài guì, hěnshǎo yǒu rén wènjīn.

Things in this shop are too expensive, so hardly anyone takes an interest.

HSK 7-9

这部小说出版后一度无人问津，多年后才突然走红。

Zhè bù xiǎoshuō chūbǎn hòu yídù wúrén wènjīn, duō nián hòu cái tūrán zǒuhóng.

When it first came out, the novel was ignored; only years later did it suddenly take off.

Tips

history

津 is a ford or ferry crossing. In the Analects, Confucius sends his disciple 子路 to ask two farmers the way to the ford, and 陶渊明's 《桃花源记》 ends 后遂无问津者 'after that, no one asked the way there again'. From 'asking the way' came 'showing interest', used almost only with a negative: 无人问津 'nobody shows any interest'.

In Pop Culture

问津书院 Wènjīn Shūyuàn

Wenjin Academy

Old academy in Xinzhou, Wuhan, said to stand where Confucius sent Zilu to ask the way to the ford.

Stroke Order

问 wèn

津 jīn