<blockquote>
<p>Would it be appropriate to say any of the following?</p>
<p>我想查询您…</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This usage is wrong. <code>查询</code> should be followed by the object being asked for, not the person who is being asked. The correct usages are</p>
<ul>
<li><code>我想查询[sth]。</code></li>
<li><code>我想向[sb]查询[sth]。</code></li>
</ul>
<p>Example:</p>
<ul>
<li>我想（向您）查询从北京到上海的机票价格。</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p>我想询问您…</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This one is correct. <code>询问</code> can be used in three ways:</p>
<ul>
<li><code>我想询问[sth]</code></li>
<li><code>我想询问[sb][sth]</code></li>
<li><code>我想向[sb]询问[sth]</code></li>
</ul>
<p>Example:</p>
<ul>
<li>我想询问从北京到上海的机票价格。</li>
<li>我想询问您从北京到上海的机票价格。</li>
<li>我想向您询问从北京到上海的机票价格。</li>
</ul>
<p>Both of them are formal but never too formal to use in daily conversations; I use them from time to time when talking to a service personnel, especially when over the phone.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-27T21:14:42.560Z
2012-06-27T23:24:55.050Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
NS.X.
<p>In the context of phone conversations with vendors I often default to either:</p>

<ul>
<li>我想问一下…</li>
<li>请问…</li>
</ul>

<p>I'm looking for a possibly more appropriate way to address someone in this context. Would it be appropriate to say any of the following?</p>

<ul>
<li>我想查询您…</li>
<li>我想询问您…</li>
</ul>

<word-choice><usage>
What's the difference between “问一下”，“查询”， “询问”？
# What's the difference between “问一下”，“查询”， “询问”？

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-06-27)

In the context of phone conversations with vendors I often default to either:

* 我想问一下…
* 请问…

I'm looking for a possibly more appropriate way to address someone in this context. Would it be appropriate to say any of the following?

* 我想查询您…
* 我想询问您…

**Tags:** word-choice, usage


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-06-27. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

> Would it be appropriate to say any of the following?
>
> 我想查询您…

This usage is wrong. `查询` should be followed by the object being asked for, not the person who is being asked. The correct usages are

* `我想查询[sth]。`
* `我想向[sb]查询[sth]。`

Example:

* 我想（向您）查询从北京到上海的机票价格。

> 我想询问您…

This one is correct. `询问` can be used in three ways:

* `我想询问[sth]`
* `我想询问[sb][sth]`
* `我想向[sb]询问[sth]`

Example:

* 我想询问从北京到上海的机票价格。
* 我想询问您从北京到上海的机票价格。
* 我想向您询问从北京到上海的机票价格。

Both of them are formal but never too formal to use in daily conversations; I use them from time to time when talking to a service personnel, especially when over the phone.


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