ask

ask

(ăsk)

v. asked, ask·ing, asks

v. tr.

1. To put a question to: When we realized that we didn't know the answer, we asked the teacher.

2. To seek an answer to: ask a question.

3. To seek information about: asked directions.

4.

a. To make a request of: asked me for a loan.

b. To make a request for. Often used with an infinitive or clause: ask a favor of a friend; asked to go along on the trip; asked that he be allowed to stay out late.

5. To require or call for as a price or condition: asked ten dollars for the book.

6. To expect or demand: ask too much of a child.

7. To invite: asked them to dinner.

8. Archaic To publish, as marriage banns.

v. intr.

1. To make inquiry; seek information.

2. To make a request: asked for help.

n. pl. asks Informal

1. The act of making a request: "He was contacted by the mayor's fund-raiser ... a day after the mayor made the ask" (Jennifer Fermino).

2. Something that is requested: "Being funny on demand is a big ask" (Anne Curzan).

Phrasal Verb:

ask out

To invite (someone) to a social engagement.

Idiom:

ask for it (or trouble) Informal

To persist in an action despite the likelihood that it will result in difficulty or punishment.

---

[Middle English asken, from Old English ācsian, āscian; see ais- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

---

ask′er n.

Synonyms: ask, question, inquire, query, interrogate, examine, quiz
These verbs mean to seek to gain or elicit information from another: Ask is the most neutral term: We asked the police officer for directions. The coach asked me what was wrong.
Question implies careful or methodical asking: The prosecutor questioned the witness on several key points.
Inquire often suggests a polite or formal request: We inquired whether the hotel had laundry service. The chairman inquired how best to secure the information.
Query usually suggests settling a doubt: The proofreader queried the author on the spelling of a name.
Interrogate applies especially to official and often aggressive questioning: The detectives interrogated the suspects for several hours.
Examine refers particularly to close and detailed questioning to ascertain a person's knowledge or qualifications: The committee examined each candidate separately.
Quiz denotes the informal examination of students: The teacher quizzed the pupils on the multiplication table.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ask

(ɑːsk)

vb

1. (often foll by about) to put a question (to); request an answer (from): she asked (him) about God.

2. (tr) to inquire about: she asked him the time of the train; she asked the way.

3. (tr) to direct or put (a question)

4. (often foll by: for) to make a request or demand: she asked (him) for information; they asked for a deposit.

5. (tr) to demand or expect (esp in the phrases ask a lot of, ask too much of)

6. (tr) Also: ask out or ask over to request (a person) politely to come or go to a place; invite: he asked her to the party.

7. (tr) to need; require: the job asks both time and patience.

8. (tr) archaic to proclaim (marriage banns)

n

a big ask a tough ask informal Brit and Austral and NZ a task which is difficult to fulfil

[Old English āscian; related to Old Frisian āskia, Old Saxon ēscon, Old High German eiscōn]

ˈasker n

---

Ask

(ɑːsk)

n

(Norse Myth & Legend) Norse myth the first man, created by the gods from an ash tree

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ask

(æsk, ɑsk)

v. asked, ask•ing. v.t.

1. to put a question to; inquire of: I asked her but she didn't answer.

2. to request information about: to ask the way.

3. to put into words so as to gain information, attention, etc.; utter; pose: to ask the right questions.

4. to request: to ask a favor.

5. to solicit from; request of: Could I ask you a favor?

6. to demand; expect: What price are they asking?

7. to set a price of: to ask $40 for the hat.

8. to call for; need: This experiment asks patience.

9. to invite: to ask guests to dinner.

v.i.

10. to make inquiry; inquire: ask after a person.

11. to request or petition (usu. fol. by for): to ask for leniency.

Idioms:

ask for it, to invite problems by persisting in risky or annoying behavior. Also, ask for trouble.

[before 900; Middle English asken,axen, Old English āscian, āxian, c. Old Frisian āskia, Old Saxon ēscon, Old High German eiscōn; akin to Skt icchati (he) seeks]

ask′er, n.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

ask

- A request or question.

See also related terms for request.

Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

ask

1. 'ask'

You say that someone asks a question.

The police officer asked me a lot of questions.

Be Careful!
Don't say that someone 'says a question'.

2. reporting questions

When you report a yes/no-question, you usually use ask with an if-clause.

She asked him if he spoke French.

Someone asked me if the work was going well.

You can also use a clause beginning with 'whether'.

I asked Brian whether he agreed.

When you report a wh-question, you usually use ask with a wh-clause.

I asked him what he wanted.

He asked me where I was going.

Be Careful!
In the wh-clause, the subject and the verb do not change places. Don't say, for example, 'He asked me when was the train leaving'. You say 'He asked me when the train was leaving'.

You can say that someone asks someone else their name or their age.

He asked me my name.

You can say that someone asks someone else's opinion.

I was asked my opinion about the new car.

You don't need to say who a question is addressed to if this is clear from the context.

A young man asked if we were students.

I asked whether they liked the film.

Be Careful!
Don't use 'to' when mentioning who a question is addressed to. Don't say, for example, 'He asked to me my name'.

3. direct reporting

You can use ask when reporting directly what someone says.

'How many languages can you speak?' he asked.

'Have you met him?' I asked.

4. reporting requests

When someone says that they want to be given something, you report this using ask and for. For example, if a man says to a waiter 'Can I have a glass of water?', you report this as 'He asked for a glass of water' or 'He asked the waiter for a glass of water'.

We asked for the bill.

When someone says that they want to speak to another person on the telephone, you say that they ask for that person.

He rang the office and asked for Cynthia.

When someone tells another person that they want them to do something, you report this using ask and either a to-infinitive clause or an if-clause.

He asked her to marry him.

I asked him if he could help.

---

inquire

– enquire – ask

1. 'inquire' and 'enquire'

If you inquire or enquire about something, you ask for information about it. There is no difference in meaning between these words. Inquire is more common, especially in American English.

We inquired about the precise circumstances surrounding the arrest.

I enquired about the scenery and Beaumont told me it was being built in a carpenter's shop in Waterloo.

You can use inquire or enquire with a 'wh'-clause.

She inquired how Ibrahim was getting on.

I enquired what kind of aircraft he had commanded before returning home.

In writing, inquire and enquire are sometimes used in quote structures.

'Anything you need?' inquired the girl.

'Who compiles these reports?' Philip enquired.

Be Careful!
You do not use these verbs with a direct object. You do not say, for example, 'He inquired her if she was well'.

2. 'ask'

Inquire and enquire are fairly formal words. In conversation, people usually use ask. Ask can be used with or without a direct object.

She asked about his work.

I asked him what he wanted.

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

ask

Past participle: asked
Gerund: asking

Imperative

ask

ask

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	ask - inquire about; "I asked about their special today"; "He had to ask directions several times" enquire, inquire communicate, intercommunicate - transmit thoughts or feelings; "He communicated his anxieties to the psychiatrist" ask - direct or put; seek an answer to; "ask a question" pry - be nosey; "Don't pry into my personal matters!" confer with, consult - get or ask advice from; "Consult your local broker"; "They had to consult before arriving at a decision" ask - address a question to and expect an answer from; "Ask your teacher about trigonometry"; "The children asked me about their dead grandmother"
	2.	ask - make a request or demand for something to somebody; "She asked him for a loan" call for, request, bespeak, quest - express the need or desire for; ask for; "She requested an extra bed in her room"; "She called for room service" request - ask (a person) to do something; "She asked him to be here at noon"; "I requested that she type the entire manuscript" solicit - make a solicitation or petition for something desired; "She is too shy to solicit" ask in, invite - ask to enter; "We invited the neighbors in for a cup of coffee" ask over, ask round, invite - invite someone to one's house; "Can I invite you for dinner on Sunday night?" ask out, invite out, take out - make a date; "Has he asked you out yet?"
	3.	ask - direct or put; seek an answer to; "ask a question" ask, enquire, inquire - inquire about; "I asked about their special today"; "He had to ask directions several times" give voice, phrase, word, articulate, formulate - put into words or an expression; "He formulated his concerns to the board of trustees"
	4.	ask - consider obligatory; request and expect; "We require our secretary to be on time"; "Aren't we asking too much of these children?"; "I expect my students to arrive in time for their lessons" expect, require demand - request urgently and forcefully; "The victim's family is demanding compensation"; "The boss demanded that he be fired immediately"; "She demanded to see the manager" call - require the presentation of for redemption before maturation; "Call a bond"
	5.	ask - address a question to and expect an answer from; "Ask your teacher about trigonometry"; "The children asked me about their dead grandmother" ask, enquire, inquire - inquire about; "I asked about their special today"; "He had to ask directions several times" query, question - pose a question interrogate, question - pose a series of questions to; "The suspect was questioned by the police"; "We questioned the survivor about the details of the explosion" address, turn to - speak to; "He addressed the crowd outside the window"
	6.	ask - require as useful, just, or proper; "It takes nerve to do what she did"; "success usually requires hard work"; "This job asks a lot of patience and skill"; "This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice"; "This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert"; "This intervention does not postulate a patient's consent" necessitate, need, require, call for, demand, postulate, involve, take exact, claim, take - take as an undesirable consequence of some event or state of affairs; "the accident claimed three lives"; "The hard work took its toll on her" govern - require to be in a certain grammatical case, voice, or mood; "most transitive verbs govern the accusative case in German" draw - require a specified depth for floating; "This boat draws 70 inches" cost - require to lose, suffer, or sacrifice; "This mistake cost him his job" cry for, cry out for - need badly or desperately; "This question cries out for an answer" compel - necessitate or exact; "the water shortage compels conservation"
	7.	ask - require or ask for as a price or condition; "He is asking $200 for the table"; "The kidnappers are asking a million dollars in return for the release of their hostage" demand - request urgently and forcefully; "The victim's family is demanding compensation"; "The boss demanded that he be fired immediately"; "She demanded to see the manager"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

ask

verb

1. inquire, question, quiz, query, interrogate 'How is Frank?' he asked.
inquire answer, reply, respond

2. put, propose, pose I wasn't the only one asking questions.

3. request, apply to, appeal to, plead with, demand, urge, sue, pray, beg, petition, crave, solicit, implore, enjoin, beseech, entreat, supplicate We had to ask him to leave.

4. invite, bid, summon She asked me back to her house.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

ask

verb

1. To put a question to (someone):

examine, inquire, query, question, quiz.

2. To seek an answer to (a question):

pose, put, raise.

3. To endeavor to obtain (something) by expressing one's needs or desires.Also used with for:

request, seek, solicit.

4. To have as a need or prerequisite:

call for, demand, entail, involve, necessitate, require, take.

5. To request that someone take part in or be present at a particular occasion:

bid, invite.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

يَدْعويَسْأليَسْأَلُيَطْلُب

моляпитам

zeptat sepožádatpozvatžádat

spørgebedebede ominvitere

fragenbitteneinladeneinmahnenanfragen

ρωτώζητώ

demandipeti

preguntarpedirpreguntar porinvitar

kysyäpyytää

demanderinviterposerprierquestionner

pitatimoliti

kérkérdez

mintatanya

spyrjabiîja umbjóîa

chiederedomandareinterrogareinvitarerichiesta

尋ねる

묻다

precariquaerererogare

jei paprašysitklaustikviestipaklaustipakviesti

ielūgtjautātlūgtuzaicināt

vragen

spørrebebe ombedeinvitere

poprosićprosićzapytać

perguntarpedir

cereîntrebainvitaruga

спрашиватьспроситьзадаватьпопроситьпросить

prositivprašatipovabiti

fråga

ถาม

sormakçağırmakdavet etmekdilemekistemek

پُوچھنامانگنا

hỏicầu xinchất vấn

询问邀请要求

ask

[ɑːsk]

A. TRANSITIVE VERB

1. (= inquire) → preguntar
"how is Frank?" he asked → -¿cómo está Frank? -preguntó
to ask sb sth → preguntar algo a algn
I asked him his name/the time → le pregunté su nombre/la hora
to ask o.s. sth → preguntarse algo
did you ask him about the job? → ¿le has preguntado por el trabajo?; (in more detail) → ¿le has preguntado acerca del trabajo?
I've been meaning to ask you about that → llevo tiempo queriendo or hace tiempo que quiero preguntarte acerca de eso
ask her about her plans for Christmas → pregúntale qué planes tiene para la Navidad
ask me another! → ¡no tengo ni idea!
don't ask me! → ¡yo qué sé!, ¡qué sé yo! (esp LAm)
I ask you! (despairing) → ¿te lo puedes creer?
ask him if he has seen her → pregúntale si la ha visto
if you ask me, I think she's crazy → para mí que está loca
and where have you been, may I ask? → ¿y dónde has estado, si se puede saber?
to ask (sb) a question → hacer una pregunta (a algn)
I asked the teacher what to do next → le pregunté al profesor lo que tenía que hacer después
ask them what time the party is → pregúntales a qué hora es la fiesta
who asked you? → ¿quién te ha preguntado a ti?
ask her why she didn't come → pregúntale por qué no vino

2. (= request) → pedir
to ask sb a favour, ask a favour of sb → pedir un favor a algn
how much are they asking for the car? → ¿cuánto piden por el coche?
they are asking £80,000 for the house → piden 80.000 libras por la casa
that's asking the impossible → eso es pedir lo imposible
it's not a lot to ask → no es mucho pedir
that's asking a lot → eso es mucho pedir
what more can you ask? → ¿qué más se puede pedir?
to ask sth of sb he did everything asked of him → hizo todo lo que se le pidió
all he asked of us was that we tell people about his plight → sólo nos pidió que habláramos a la gente de la difícil situación en que se encontraba
to ask that sth be done → pedir que se haga algo
all I'm asking is that you keep an open mind → sólo te pido que or lo único que pido es que mantengas una actitud abierta
to ask to do sth: I asked to see the director → pedí ver al director
he asked to go on the picnic → preguntó si podía ir (con ellos) de picnic
to ask sb to do sth → pedir a algn que haga algo
we had to ask him to leave → tuvimos que decirle or pedirle que se marchara
that's asking too much → eso es pedir demasiado
I think she's asking too much → creo que está exigiendo demasiado
see also permission

3. (= invite) → invitar
have you been asked? → ¿te han invitado?
to ask sb to dinner → invitar a algn a cenar

B. INTRANSITIVE VERB

1. (= inquire) → preguntar
he was too shy to ask → le dio vergüenza preguntar
ask about our reduced rates for students → pregunta por or infórmate sobre nuestros descuentos para estudiantes
he was asking about the Vikings → preguntaba acerca de or sobre los vikingos
I asked about the possibility of staying on → pregunté acerca de or sobre la posibilidad de quedarme más tiempo, pregunté si era posible que me quedara más tiempo
he was asking about you → estaba preguntando por ti
"what's the matter?" - "don't ask" → -¿qué pasa? -más te vale no saberlo
now you're asking! (= what a difficult question) → ¡vaya con la preguntita!; (= who knows) → ¡quién sabe!; (= wouldn't we all like to know) → ¡eso quisiera saber yo!
I was only asking → era sólo una pregunta
"what has he gone and done now?" - "you may well ask!" → -¿qué es lo que ha hecho ahora? -¡buena pregunta!

2. (= make request) → pedir
if you need anything, just ask → si quieres algo no tienes más que pedirlo
the asking price → el precio que se pide/pedía
I offered £5,000 below the asking price → les ofrecí 5.000 libras menos de lo que pedían
it's yours for the asking → no tienes más que pedirlo y es tuyo

ask after VI + PREP [+ person] → preguntar por; [+ sb's health] → preguntar por, interesarse por
Jane was asking after you → Jane (me) preguntaba por ti

ask along VT + ADV → invitar
ask him along if you like → si quieres, dile que venga → invítale si quieres

ask around VI + ADV → preguntar por ahí
ask around to find out which are the best schools → pregunta por ahí y entérate de cuáles son las mejores escuelas

ask back VT + ADV (for second visit) → volver a invitar; (on reciprocal visit) → devolver la invitación a
she asked me back to her house after the show → me invitó a su casa después del espectáculo

ask for

A. VI + PREP

1. (= request) → pedir, solicitar (more frm)
he wrote asking for help → escribió pidiendo or (more frm) solicitando ayuda
to ask for sth back → pedir que se devuelva algo

2. (= look for) to ask for sb → preguntar por algn
there's someone asking for you at reception → hay alguien en recepción que pregunta por ti

3. (in idiomatic phrases)
he is all I could ask for in a son → tiene todo lo que podría pedirle a un hijo
he asked for it! → ¡él se lo ha buscado!
you're asking for a good smack! → ¡si sigues así, te vas a ganar una buena bofetada!
it's just asking for trouble → eso no es otra cosa que buscarse problemas

B. VT + PREP
to ask sb for sth → pedir algo a algn

ask in VT + ADV → invitar a entrar, invitar a pasar
to ask sb in for a drink → invitar a algn a que pase a tomar algo

ask out VT + ADV → invitar a salir
they never ask her out → no la invitan nunca a salir (con ellos)
he asked her out to dinner → la invitó (a salir) a cenar

ask round VT + ADV → invitar (a casa)
they've asked us round for drinks → nos han invitado (a su casa) a tomar unas copas

ASK

• Translate ask by preguntar only in contexts where information is being sought:

I'll ask him Voy a preguntárselo Ask her what she thinks Pregúntale qué le parece We asked everywhere Preguntamos en todas partes

• Use pedir when ask means "request" or "demand":

No one asked to see my passport Nadie me pidió el pasaporte We asked them to be here before five Les pedimos que estuviesen or estuvieran aquí antes de las cinco He was asked to explain his behaviour Le pidieron que explicara su comportamiento

! Pedir que is followed by the subjunctive.

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

ask

[ˈɑːsk]

vt

(= inquire) → demander
"Have you finished?" she asked → "Tu as fini?" a-t-elle demandé.
to ask sb sth → demander qch à qn
I asked him his name → Je lui ai demandé son nom.
He asked her how old she was → Il lui a demandé quel âge elle avait.
to ask sb the time → demander l'heure à qn
to ask sb about sth → poser des questions à qn au sujet de qch, poser des questions à qn sur qch
to ask a question → poser une question
to ask sb a question → poser une question à qn
to ask whether ... → demander si ...
to ask why ... → demander pourquoi ...
to ask if ... → demander si ...
to ask sb whether ... → demande à qn si ...
to ask sb why ... → demander à qn pourquoi ...
to ask sb if ... → demander à qn si ...
to ask sb's opinion → demander son opinion à qn
if you ask me → si vous voulez mon avis
to ask the price → demander le prix
don't ask me (= I don't know) → est-ce que je sais (moi)
I ask you > (indicating disapproval) → je vous demande un peu

(= request) → demander
to ask sb sth → demander qch à qn
to ask sb to do sth → demander à qn de faire qch
She asked him to do the shopping → Elle lui a demandé de faire les courses.
to ask permission → demander la permission
to ask forgiveness → demander pardon
to ask sb's permission → demander la permission à qn
to ask sb's forgiveness → demander pardon à qn

(= invite) → inviter
Have you asked Matthew to the party? → Est-ce que tu as invité Matthew à la fête?

vi → demander
to ask about sth → se renseigner sur qch
I asked about train times to Leeds → Je me suis renseigné sur les horaires des trains pour Leeds.
to ask about the price → se renseigner sur le prix
to ask to do sth → demander à faire qch
may I ask → si ce n'est pas trop demander
everything is yours for the asking → tout est à votre disposition - il suffit de demander

ask after

vt fus → demander des nouvelles de

ask for

vt fus → demander
to ask for sth → demander qch
He asked for a cup of tea → Il a demandé une tasse de thé.
to ask for sb → demander qn
you're asking for trouble!, you're asking for it! → tu cherches des ennuis!
it's just asking for trouble, it's just asking for it → ce serait chercher des ennuis

ask out

vt sep
He asked her out → Il lui a demandé de sortir avec lui.
to ask sb out to dinner → inviter qn au restaurant

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

ask

vt

(= inquire) → fragen; question → stellen; to ask somebody the way/the time/his opinion → jdn nach dem Weg/der Uhrzeit/seiner Meinung fragen; to ask if … → (nach)fragen, ob …; he asked me where I’d been → er fragte mich, wo ich gewesen sei or wäre (inf) → or bin (inf); if you ask me → wenn du mich fragst; don’t ask me! (inf) → frag mich nicht, was weiß ich! (inf); I ask you! (inf) → ich muss schon sagen!

(= invite) → einladen; (in dancing) → auffordern; to ask somebody for or to lunch → jdn zum (Mittag)essen einladen

(= request) → bitten (sb for sth jdn um etw); (= require, demand) → verlangen (sth of sb etw von jdm); to ask somebody to do something → jdn darum bitten, etw zu tun; are you asking me to believe that? → und das soll ich glauben?; all I ask is … → ich will ja nur …; you don’t ask for much, do you? (iro) → sonst noch was? (iro), → sonst or weiter nichts? (iro); could I ask your advice? → darf ich Sie um Rat bitten?; he asked to be excused → er bat, ihn zu entschuldigen, er entschuldigte sich; that’s asking the impossible → das ist ein Ding der Unmöglichkeit; he asks too much of me → er verlangt zu viel von mir; that’s asking too much → das ist zu viel verlangt

(Comm) price → verlangen, fordern

vi

(= inquire) → fragen; to ask about somebody/something → sich nach jdm/etw erkundigen; ask away! → frag nur!; I only asked → ich habe doch nur gefragt; and what does that mean, may I ask? → und was soll das bedeuten, wenn ich mal fragen darf?; well may you ask → das fragt man sich mit Recht

(= request) → bitten (for sth um etw); you just have to ask → du musst nur was sagen (inf), → du brauchst nur zu fragen; I’m not asking for sympathy → ich will kein Mitleid; there’s no harm in asking → Fragen kostet nichts!; it’s yours for the asking → du kannst es haben; you are asking for trouble → du willst wohl Ärger haben; if you do that you’re asking for trouble → wenn du das tust, dann kriegst du Ärger; that’s asking for trouble → das kann ja nicht gut gehen; you asked for it (inf) → du hast es ja so gewollt; he’s asking for it (inf) → er will es ja so, er will es ja nicht anders; to ask for Mr X → Herrn X verlangen; she was asking for you (Scot) → sie hat sich nach dir erkundigt; to ask for something back → etw wiederhaben wollen

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

ask

[ɑːsk]

1. vt

a. (inquire) to ask sb sth → domandare qc a qn, chiedere qc a qn
she asked him about his father → gli domandò (notizie) di suo padre
to ask sb a question → fare una domanda a qn
to ask sb the time → chiedere l'ora a qn
don't ask me! (fam) → non domandarlo a me!, a me lo chiedi?

b. (request) to ask sb for sth/sb to do sth → chiedere qc a qn/a qn di fare qc
to ask sb a favour → chiedere un piacere or un favore a qn
how much are they asking for it? → quanto chiedono per quello?
that's asking a lot! → questo è pretendere un po' troppo!

c. (invite) to ask sb to sth/to do sth → invitare qn a qc/a fare qc
to ask sb out → invitare qn fuori
to ask sb to dinner → invitare qn a cena

2. vi (inquire) → chiedere; (request) → richiedere
to ask about sth → informarsi su or di qc
you should ask at the information desk → dovresti rivolgerti all'ufficio informazioni
it's yours for the asking → non hai che da chiederlo

ask after vi + prep → chiedere di, domandare or chiedere (notizie) di, informarsi di

ask for vi + prep (person) → chiedere di, cercare; (help, information, money) → chiedere, domandare
I asked him for help → gli ho chiesto aiuto or di aiutarmi
it's just asking for trouble → è proprio (come) andarsele a cercare

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

ask

(aːsk) verb

1. to put a question. He asked me what the time was; Ask the price of that scarf; Ask her where to go; Ask him about it; If you don't know, ask. vra يَسْأل питам perguntar zeptat se fragen spørge ρωτώpreguntar küsima پرسیدن kysyä demander לִשׁאוֹל पूछना pitati (meg)kérdez bertanya spyrja chiedere 尋ねる 물어보다 (pa)klausti []jautāt tanya vragenspørrepytać پوښتل perguntar a întreba спрашивать opýtať sa vprašati pitati fråga ถาม sormak 詢問 питати پوچھنا hỏi 询问

2. to express a wish to someone for something. I asked her to help me; I asked (him) for a day off; He rang and asked for you; Can I ask a favour of you? vra يَطْلُب запитвам pedir požádat bitten bede om ζητώpedir; preguntar por paluma خواستن؛ درخواست کردن pyytää demander לְבַקֵש मांगना tražiti kér minta biðja um chiedere 頼む 요구하다 (pa)prašyti lūgt meminta vragenbe omprosić غوښتل ، درخواست کول pedir a cere просить požiadať prositi zamoliti be [om], fråga efter ขอ rica etmek, istemek 要求 просити درخواست کرنا đề nghị 要求

3. to invite. He asked her to his house for lunch. uitnooi يَدْعو каня convidar pozvat einladen invitere προσκαλώinvitar kutsuma دعوت کردن kutsua inviter לְהַזְמִין निमंत्रण देना pozvati meghív mengundang bjóða invitare 招待する 초대하다 (pa)kviesti ielūgt; uzaicināt jemput vrageninvitere, bezapraszać دعوتول convidar a invita приглашать pozvať povabiti pozvati bjuda เชิญ davet etmek, çağırmak 邀請 запрошувати دعوت دینا mời 邀请

ask after

to make inquiries about the health etc of. She asked after his father. vra na يَسأل عَن، يَسْتَفْسِر عَن питам за perguntar por ptát se na zdraví někoho sich erkundigen nach spørge efter; forhøre sig om ρωτώpreguntar por, interesarse por (järele) pärima دربارۀ سلامتی کسی پرسیدن tiedustella vointia demander des nouvelles de לִשְאוֹל לִשְלוֹם पूछताछ करना raspitivati se érdeklődik menanyakan inna eftir, spyrja frétta af e-m chiedere di ～の安否を尋ねる ...에게 문안하다 teirautis apjautāties bertanyakan tentang vragen naar spørre etter, forhøre seg om pytać o, dopytywać się o د یو چا د سلامتیا په هکله پوښتل perguntar por a întreba de осведомляться; справляться popýtať sa (na zdravie ap.) zanimati se za pitati za nekoga fråga om, höra sig för om ถามถึง hâl hatır sormak 問起某人的(健康等)狀況 питати про чиєсь здоров'я کے بارے میں پوچھنا hỏi thăm 问候

ask for

1. to express a wish to see or speak to (someone). When he telephoned he asked for you; He is very ill and keeps asking for his daughter. vra na يَطْلُب търся pedir ptát se po někom fragen nach spørge efter; bede om ζητώpreguntar por, reclamar küsima خواستن؛ طلب کردن kysyä henkilöä demander, réclamer לְבָקֵש निवेदन करना zatražiti keres minta biðja um, spyrja eftir chiedere di 会いたいという ...에게 면회를 요청하다 (pa)kviesti, (pa)prašyti palūgt; pieprasīt bertanyakan vragen naar be om, spørre etterprosić غوښتل ، طلبول pedir a întreba (de); a cere спрашивать pýtať sa na (koho) vprašati po tražiti (nekoga) fråga efter ถามถึง ile konuşmak, istemek 要求與某人見面或說話 просити про کے بارے میں پوچھنا xin gặp ai 寻找

2. to behave as if inviting (something unpleasant). Going for a swim when you have a cold is just as asking for trouble. vra, soek يَجُرُّ المَتاعِب молба atrair říkat si o herausfordern bede om; opsøge problemer πάω γυρεύοντας buscar, buscársela otsima دنبال چیزی بودن etsiä hankaluuksia chercher לְחָפֵשׂ दावत देना tražiti keresi a bajt mencari-cari leita eftir, biðja um cercare, andare in cerca di 自らまねく 무리한 부탁을 하다 prisišaukti sagādāt sev nepatikšanas mengundang vragen ombe om, oppsøke prosić się (o) د یو شی په تعقیب کی اوسیدل atrair a o căuta (cu lu­mâ­narea) напрашиваться privolať si (čo) naravnost iskati, izzivati prizvati be om เชิญ (สิ่งที่ไม่เป็นที่น่าพอใจ) belâ aramak, aranmak, kaşınmak 自討(不愉快的後果) лізти на рожен; лізти в пухир خواہ مخواہ مصیبت مول لینا chuốc lấy 自讨苦吃

for the asking

you may have (something) simply by asking for it; This table is yours for the asking. as jy dit wil hê بِناء عَلى الطَّلَب питане a pedido stačí říct zu haben bare du beder (om) αρκεί να (το) ζητήσεις con sólo pedirlo ilma pikemata بدست آوردن چیزی در صورت خواستن آن saada pyydettäessä il n'y a qu'à le demander לְבַּקָשָתך मांग treba samo zatražiti i dobit ćeš! csak kérni kell cuma-cuma, tinggal minta þarf ekki nema spyrja (basta chiedere) くれとさえ言えば 원한다면 vos paprašius, jei paprašysit ja vēlaties; ja tas interesē permintaan je hebt er maar om te vragen bare du ber om za darmo د غوښتلو په صورت کی د یو شی لاسته راوړل a pedido dacă vrei стоит только спросить stačí povedať na migljaj; če samo hočeš samo zatražiti utan vidare, bara genom att be om det (ง่ายสำหรับคุณ) ถ้าคุณขอ (sadece) istemek yeter, yeter ki istensin 詢問索取 варто тільки попросити کے متعلق پوچھنا nếu yêu cầu 索取

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

ask

→ يَسْأَلُ zeptat se spørge fragen ρωτώ preguntar kysyä demander pitati chiedere 尋ねる 묻다 vragen spørre zapytać perguntar спрашивать fråga ถาม sormak hỏi 询问

Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

ask

vt. preguntar, interrogar, hacer preguntas; [about someone] preguntar por;

to ___ for → [to request] pedir.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012