Usage note
打听表示向别人问消息。
dǎ tīng biǎo shì xiàng bié rén wèn xiāo xī。
打听 means to ask around for information.
Context note
打听常用于找人、问路和了解情况。
dǎ tīng cháng yòng yú zhǎo rén 、 wèn lù hé liǎo jiě qíng kuàng。
It is often used for finding people, asking directions, and learning about situations.
5 examples
我想打听一下。
wǒ xiǎng dǎ tīng yí xià。
I want to ask around a bit.
他去打听朋友的消息。
tā qù dǎ tīng péng yǒu de xiāo xī。
He went to ask about his friend's news.
你能打听到吗？
nǐ néng dǎ tīng dào ma？
Can you find out?
她在打听车站在哪儿。
tā zài dǎ tīng chē zhàn zài nǎ ér。
She is asking where the station is.
不要随便打听别人。
bú yào suí biàn dǎ tīng bié rén。
Do not ask about other people casually.
5 mini stories
他向同学打听作业内容。
tā xiàng tóng xué dǎ tīng zuò yè nèi róng。
He asked classmates about the homework content.
妈妈打听到了好消息。
mā ma dǎ tīng dào le hǎo xiāo xī。
Mom found out some good news.
老师让大家不要乱打听。
lǎo shī ràng dà jiā bú yào luàn dǎ tīng。
The teacher asked everyone not to ask around randomly.
他去商店打听价格。
tā qù shāng diàn dǎ tīng jià gé。
He went to the shop to ask about the price.
打听清楚以后再决定。
dǎ tīng qīng chǔ yǐ hòu zài jué dìng。
After asking clearly, then decide.
Mini dialogue
打听作业
A
我想跟你打听一下，今天的作业是什么？
Wǒ xiǎng gēn nǐ dǎting yīxià, jīntiān de zuòyè shì shénme?
I'd like to inquire with you, what is today's homework?
B
好的，我告诉你。
Hǎo de, wǒ gàosu nǐ.
Sure, I'll tell you.
打听路线
A
阿姨，我向您打听一下，图书馆怎么走？
Āyí, wǒ xiàng nín dǎting yīxià, túshūguǎn zěnme zǒu?
Auntie, may I inquire with you, how do I get to the library?
B
直走，然后右转就到了。
Zhí zǒu, ránhòu yòu zhuǎn jiù dào le.
Go straight, then turn right and you'll be there.
Related words and contrasts
similar
询问
xún wèn
to ask, to query
A more formal way to say 'ask for information'.
related
了解
liǎo jiě
to find out, to understand
The goal of inquiring is often to understand a situation.