请问哪位？
qǐngwèn nǎwèi?
May i ask who's calling · trad. 請問哪位？
请问哪位？ (qǐngwèn nǎ wèi) is a polite way to ask "Who is this?" or "Who's calling?" It's commonly used when answering the phone or when you don't recognize someone and want to inquire about their identity respectfully.
What does 请问哪位？ (qǐngwèn nǎwèi?) mean?
请问哪位？ (qǐngwèn nǎwèi?) means “may I ask who's calling” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “May I ask which honorable person?”
When to use it
Polite and formal, especially suitable for phone calls or when addressing someone whose identity you don't know. A more direct but less formal way to ask "Who are you?" is 你是谁？ (nǐ shì shéi?).
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “ching-WEN nah-WAY.” The tones are third, fourth, third, fourth.
Other ways to say it
- 您是哪位？nín shì nǎwèi?Who are you? (polite, direct)
- 请问找哪位？qǐngwèn zhǎo nǎwèi?May I ask who you are looking for?
- 请问您是？qǐngwèn nín shì?May I ask who you are? (concise)
Examples
喂，请问哪位？
wèi, qǐngwèn nǎwèi?
Hello, may I ask who's calling?
您好，请问哪位找我？
nínhǎo, qǐngwèn nǎwèi zhǎo wǒ?
Hello, may I ask who is looking for me?
请问哪位是王经理？
qǐngwèn nǎwèi shì Wáng jīnglǐ?
May I ask which one is Manager Wang?
Pro tip: The character 位 (wèi) in 哪位 makes the question very polite, implying "which honorable person," which is why it's preferred over just asking "你是谁？" (nǐ shì shéi?) in formal contexts.
Related phrases
喂，你好 · Hello (answering the phone)请稍等，我帮您转接 · One moment, i'll transfer you他现在不在 · He's not in right now
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