Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Inquiry" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "inquiry", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
打診
だしん (dashin)
N1 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
下問
かもん (kamon)
C2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "inquiry" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 打診 and 下問.
In Japanese, 打診 (だしん (dashin)) is typically associated with "inquiry, sounding out, feeler; (medical) percussion" (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents Often used in business or formal contexts when cautiously inquiring about someone's intentions, readiness, or a situation before making a formal proposal. Can also refer to medical percussion..
On the other hand, 下問 (かもん (kamon)) maps to "inquiry to a subordinate" (Syllabus Level: C2) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR C2 vocabulary syllabus.. A literal translation of "inquiry" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "打診"
彼は取引先の意向を打診した。
He sounded out the client's intentions.
Bilingual Context for "下問"
私は下問に興味があります。
I am interested in inquiry to a subordinate.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "彼は取引先の意向を ＿＿＿ した。" (Meaning: "He sounded out the client's intentions.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "打診" fits here because it means "inquiry, sounding out, feeler; (medical) percussion" in the context of: "He sounded out the client's intentions.". "下問" represents "inquiry to a subordinate".