ask
verb uk/ɑːsk/ us/æsk/
(QUESTION)
B1 [ I or T ]问，询问;请求，征求
to put a question to someone, or to request an answer from someone
[ + two objects ] She asked me a question. 她问了我一个问题。
She asked a question about Welsh history. 她问了一个有关威尔士历史的问题。
She asked me about Welsh history. 她问我有关威尔士历史的问题。
She asked about Welsh history. 她问了有关威尔士历史的问题。
[ + question word ] I've no idea what time the train leaves. Ask the guard whether he knows. 我不知道火车什么时候开，问问列车长是否知道。
I asked the guard the time of the train's departure. 我问了问列车长火车的离站时间。
I asked when the train would leave. 我问了问火车什么时候开。
[ + speech ] "What time does the train leave?" I asked. “火车什么时候开？”我问道。
ask yourself somethingC2 仔细考虑某事
to consider something carefully
She needs to ask herself why nobody seems to like her. 她应当好好想想为什么好像没有人喜欢她。
- More examples
- First I'd like to ask you a few questions about your childhood.
- I just wanted to ask you if you're free this afternoon.
- I hate having to ask for money.
- If you want any time off work you'll have to ask the boss.
- We had to ask our guide to interpret for us.
(REQUEST)
B1 [ I or T ]请求
to speak or write to someone saying that you want them to do something, to give you something, or to allow you to do something
If you need any help, please don't hesitate to ask. 如果有需要帮忙的地方，请尽管说。
She asked (her manager) if/whether she could leave early to pick up the kids. 她问（经理）自己是否可以提早离开去接孩子。
I asked to see my accountant. 我要求见我的会计师。
You should ask (your accountant) for some financial advice. 你应该（向你的会计师）征求财务方面的建议。
[ + to infinitive ] You should ask your accountant to give you some financial advice. 你应该让你的会计师给你一些财务方面的建议。
Can I ask you a favour?/formal Can I ask a favour of you? 你可以帮我个忙吗？
I'd like to ask your advice/opinion on a financial matter. 我遇到一个财务方面的问题，想听听你的建议／意见。
You have to ask permission to leave. 你必须征得许可方能离开。
formal We ask that any faulty goods be returned in their original packaging. 我们要求凡有质量问题的货物都装回原包装内退回。
[ + that ] formal The solicitor asked that her client be allowed to make a phone call. 律师要求允许她的当事人打个电话。
(INVITE)
A2 [ T ]请;邀请;约请
to request or invite someone to go somewhere with you or to come to your home
UK I've asked David to the party. 我已经邀请了戴维参加聚会。
[ + to infinitive ] US I've asked David to come to the party. 我已经邀请了戴维来参加聚会。
"Are you going to Muriel's party?" "No, I haven't been asked." “你去参加缪里尔的聚会吗？”“不，我没有接到邀请。”
Jorge has asked us over for dinner next Friday. 豪尔赫邀请我们下星期五共进晚餐。
UK Ian's asked us round to/for dinner next Friday. 伊恩请我们下周五去吃晚饭。
In fact they've asked us to stay for the whole weekend. 实际上他们请我们过去呆上整个周末。
- More examples
- I dare you to ask him to dance.
- He told me - and this is strictly entre nous - that he's going to ask Ruth to marry him.
- He couldn't get up the courage to ask her for a date.
- She managed to muster the courage to ask him to the cinema.
(EXPECT)
[ T ]期望;索要;要求（得到）
to expect or demand something
Greg's asking (= expecting to be paid) £250,000 for his house. 格雷格的房子要价25万英镑。
He asks too much of me - I can't always be there to help him. 他对我的要求太过分了——我不能总在那里帮他吧。
It's asking a lot when your boss wants you to work weekends as well as evenings. 如果你的老板想让你晚上加班，周末也工作，那就太过分了。
- More examples
- They were asking £180,000 for the place, so I put in an offer of £170,000.
- They're asking £60,000 for their flat, but the market price is nearer £55,000.
- We thought they were asking a very high price.
- I thought being asked to miss my lunch was a bit much.
- To expect me to look after her kids all day is asking a bit much.
Idioms
be someone's for the askingidiom 只要提出要求;只需开口要
If something is yours for the asking, you only have to ask for it in order to be given it.
With three years' experience behind her, the promotion was Kate's for the asking. 凯特已有3年的资历，只要她提出来，晋升的机会就是她的。
be asking for it/troubleidiom 自找麻烦;自讨苦吃
to be behaving stupidly in a way that is likely to cause problems for you
Drinking alcohol before driving is really asking for trouble. 酒后驾车完全是在自找麻烦。
I'm not surprised she lost her job - she was really asking for it. 她丢了工作我一点都不觉得奇怪——这是她自找的。
don't ask meidiom informalB2 别问我（我不知道）
said when you do not know the answer to a question
Don't ask me where you've left your glasses! 我哪知道你自己把眼镜放哪儿了！
I ask you!idiom informal 这叫什么事啊！（表示吃惊或愤怒）
something that you say in order to show your surprise or anger at something someone has done
They stayed for a month and left without even saying thank you! Well, I ask you! 他们住了一个月却连句谢谢都没说就走了。这叫什么事啊！
if you ask meidiom C2 我认为；依我看
said when giving your opinion on something
If you ask me, people should go on a training course before they become parents. 依我看，想要孩子的人应该先去参加一个培训班。
you may well askidiom humorous (also well may you ask) （表示…耐人寻味）你纳闷吧，你觉得出奇吧
it would be very interesting to know
How could Jonathan afford to buy a new car? You may well ask. 乔纳森怎么买得起新车的呢？你纳闷吧。
Phrasal verbs
ask after someone 探问;（尤指）问起（某人）的健康情况，问候
to ask for information about someone, especially about their health
Tell your father I was asking after him. 代我向你父亲问好。
ask around 四处打听;多方询问
to ask a lot of different people in order to get information or help
Our babysitter's just moved away, so we're asking around for a replacement. 我们的临时保姆刚刚搬走，我们正在到处打听想另找一个。
ask for someone 找（某人）
to say that you would like to see or speak to someone
A young man was here asking for you this morning. 今天上午有个年轻人来这儿找你。
ask for someone/something 找得到（更好的）
If you say you couldn't ask for someone or something better, you mean that that person or thing is the best of their type.
She's great to work for - I really couldn't ask for a better boss. 为她工作特开心——我真觉得再也找不到比她更好的老板了。
ask someone in 请（某人）进来;（尤指）把（某人）请进家
to invite someone to come into a building or room, especially your home
I'd ask you in for a coffee but I have to get up early for work in the morning. 我很想请你上家里喝杯咖啡，但是我明天得早起工作。
ask someone out （尤指为了开始与某人建立恋爱关系）请…外出（或吃饭、看电影等）
to invite someone to come with you to a place such as the cinema or a restaurant, especially as a way of starting a romantic relationship
She's asked Steve out to the cinema this evening. 她请了史蒂夫今晚出去看电影。
You should ask her out sometime. 你什么时候应该约她出来。