“〜toikakeru・toinaosu”: To Pose a Question / Re-examine (compound verbs) [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
Repeatedly questioning or re-examining something
“〜toikakeru・toinaosu”: To Pose a Question / Re-examine (compound verbs)
This pair are compound verbs of 問 (ask) plus an auxiliary: 問(と)いかける = “to pose a (deep) question to…, to ask; also to ask oneself”: 「この映画は、生きる意味を観客に問いかける」 (this film poses the question of life's meaning to the audience); 問い直(なお)す = “to question anew, re-examine”: 「自分の価値観を問い直す」 (re-examine one's values). They're more reflective than the plain 尋ねる (to ask).
🧠 Core nuance: not just “ask,” but “ask deeply, ask again, ask inward”
The core is adding a direction or attitude to “ask”: in 問いかける, かける is “to cast toward,” extended to posing a thought-provoking question to others (or oneself) (the film asks the audience, asking oneself); in 問い直す, 直す is “to redo,” i.e. to question anew, re-examine (rethink one's values, ask the meaning again). They're for abstract, reflective questioning, more dignified and deep than 尋ねる, common in critique and literature.
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (noun) を ＋ 問いかける | pose a question to… | 意味を問いかける |
| 自分に問いかける | ask oneself | 自分に問いかける |
| (noun) を ＋ 問い直す | re-examine | 価値観を問い直す |
💬 Example Sentences
- この映画は、生きる意味を観客に問いかける作品だ。(This film is a work that poses the question of life's meaning to its audience.) — pose a question
- 彼は、何度も自分自身に問いかけた。(He asked himself again and again.) — ask oneself
- 今こそ、私たちの常識を問い直すべき時だ。(Now is the time to re-examine our common sense.) — re-examine
- この事件は、社会のあり方を問い直すきっかけになった。(This incident became an occasion to rethink the shape of society.) — reflect anew
- 「本当にこれでいいのか」と、心の中で問いかける。(I ask in my heart, “is this really all right?”) — inner questioning
🔄 Compare: 問いかける vs 問い直す vs 問い詰める vs 尋ねる
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 問いかける | “pose a (deep) question / ask oneself” (reflective) | 意味を問いかける |
| 問い直す | “re-examine, ask anew” (reflection) | 価値観を問い直す |
| 問い詰める | “press, interrogate” (urgent questioning) | 責任を問い詰める |
| 尋ねる | “ask” (ordinary inquiry) | 道を尋ねる |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Confusing with 問い詰める: 問いかける = pose a question (reflective); 問い詰める = interrogate (pressing) — quite different in feel.
- Particles を/に: pose a question with を (意味を問いかける); to whom with に (観客に/自分に).
- Pairing with 答える: ✗ 問いかけるを答える → it's “to ask,” not “to answer.”
- Register: written and reflective; for everyday inquiry use 尋ねる・聞く.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
問いかける・問い直す are reflective compound verbs: 問いかける poses a thought-provoking question to others or oneself (the film asks the audience about life's meaning, asking oneself); 問い直す is re-examining, questioning anew (rethinking values, the shape of society). More dignified and abstract than the plain 尋ねる (to ask), common in critique, literature, and argument. Distinguish from the pressing 問い詰める (interrogate). Master the reflective feel of these two compound verbs. A must at N1.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- Commonly tested at N1: 問いかける = pose a (deep) question/ask oneself; 問い直す = re-examine.
- Particles: (question) を ＋ 問いかける; (target) に ＋ 問いかける.
- Distinction: 問いかける/問い直す (reflective) vs 問い詰める (interrogate) vs 尋ねる (ordinary inquiry).
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「この映画は、生きる意味を観客に___。」（拋出問題）
(A) 問いかける (B) 問い詰める (C) 問い合わせる (D) 問われる
Q2. 「問い直す」の意味は?
(A) 重新追問／重新審視
(B) 第一次問
(C) 回答
(D) 拒絕回答
Q3. 「自分に問いかける」の意味は?
(A) 捫心自問
(B) 問別人
(C) 不問
(D) 回答自己
Q4. 「問いかける」と「尋ねる」の違いは?
(A) 問いかける＝拋出(深刻)問題/向自己發問;尋ねる＝一般詢問
(B) 兩者完全相同
(C) 問いかける＝一般詢問
(D) 尋ねる＝拋出深刻問題
Q5. 用法が自然なのは?
(A) 価値観を問い直す。 (B) 価値観に問い直す(を が自然)。
(C) 問いかけるを答える。 (D) 問い直すだ高い。
答案解析
1. (A) 問いかける ── 向觀眾拋出問題。
2. (A) ── 重新追問/重新審視。
3. (A) ── 捫心自問。
4. (A) ── 問いかける 拋出深刻問題;尋ねる 一般詢問。
5. (A) ── 「価値観を問い直す」正確。