/ɑ:sk; æsk/ v
1 [I, Ipr, Tn, Tn.pr, Tw, Dn.n, Dn.w] ~ (sb) (about sb/sth); ~ sth of sb request information (about sb/sth) (from sb) 问; 询问
*Ask (him) about the ring you lost he may have found it. 问问（他）你丢的戒指--也许他捡到了.
* Don't be afraid of asking questions. 不要怕提问题.
* Did you ask the price? 你问价钱了吗?
* (fml 文) No questions were asked of us. 没有人问我们问题.
* He asked if I could drive. 他问我会不会开车.
* She asked them their names. 她问他们的姓名.
* I had to ask the teacher what to do next. 我得问问老师下一步做什么.
2 [Ipr, Tn, Tn.pr, Tw, Dn.w, Dn.t] ~ (sb) for sth; ~ sth (of sb) request that sb gives sth or does sth 要求某人给某事物或做某事物
*Did you ask (your boss) for a pay increase? 你请求（老板）加薪了吗?
* ask sb's advice, opinion, views, etc 徵询某人的高见, 意见, 看法等
* If you want to camp in this field you must ask the farmer's permission. 在这块地上露营要徵求农民的许可.
* May I ask a favour (of you)? 能不能（请你）帮我一个忙?
* It's asking rather a lot of you to have my whole family to stay. 我全家在此逗留要打搅您, 未免有些过分了.
* She asked (me) if I would drive her home. 她请求我开车送她回家.
* I asked James to buy some bread. 我叫詹姆斯去买些面包.
3 [Tw, Tt, Dn.w, Dn.t] request permission to do sth 请求准许做某事
*ask to use the car 请求准许使用汽车
* ask to speak to sb, eg on the phone 请求准许与某人谈话（如打电话时）
* I asked (the doctor) whether/if I could get up. 我请求（医生）让我下床.
* I must ask you to excuse me. 我得请你原谅.
4 [Tn.pr, Tn.p, Dn.t] ~ sb (to sth) invite sb 邀请, 请某人
*ask them to dinner 请他们吃饭
* He's asked me out several times already. 他已经几次邀请我外出.
* Shall we ask the neighbours in/round (ie to our house)? 咱们把邻居请（到咱家）来好吗?
* She's asked him to come to the party. 她邀请他来参加聚会.
5 [Tn, Tn.pr] ~ sth (for sth) request sth as a price 要价; 讨价
*You're asking too much. 你要价太高.
* What are they asking for their house? 他们那所房子要多少钱?
* He's asking
80 a month rent for that flat. 那套房间月租他要80英镑.
6 (idm 习语) `ask for trouble/it (infml 口) behave in a way that is likely to result in trouble 自找麻烦; 自讨苦吃
*Driving after drinking alcohol is asking for trouble. 酒後开车是自讨苦吃. for the `asking if one merely asks 只需开口; 只要索取
*The job is yours for the asking, ie If you say you want it, it will be given to you. 你一开口就能得到那份工作. I `ask you (infml 口) (expressing disbelief, surprise, annoyance, etc 表示怀疑, 惊奇, 烦恼等)
*They're thinking of taxing textbooks I ask you, we'll have to pay to go to bed next! 教科书也快要上税了--好家伙, 眼看连睡觉都得付钱了! if you ask `me if you would like to know my opinion 如果你想知道我的看法; 恕我直言; 不瞒你说
*If you ask me, he hasn't got long to live. 恕我直言, 他活不长了. 7(phr v) ask after sb request information about sb's health 问候某人的健康; 问候; 问安
*He always asks after you in his letters. 他每次来信都向你问候. ask for sb/sth say that one wants to see or speak to sb or to be given or directed to sth 要求见某人; 要求与某人谈话; 要某事物; 要求指点
*ask for the manager, the tickets, the bar 要求见经理; 要票; 询问酒吧地点.

NOTE ON USAGE 用法
*When making a request for somebody to do something, ask is the most usual and informal word 若要某人做某事, ask是最通俗, 最口语化的词
*I asked her to shut the window. 我让她关上窗户.
* He asked me for a light. 他向我借个火. The verb request is mainly used in formal speech and writing, often in public notices and commonly in the passive form *request这一动词主要用于庄重的讲话和文字中, 常用于通告中, 多用于被动式
*Dear Sir, I have been requested to inform you that... 敬启者
*兹通知阁下...
* Passengers are kindly requested not to smoke at the buffet counter. 乘客请勿在自助餐 附近吸烟. Beg suggests the asking of a great favour in a humble manner *beg指以谦恭的姿态要求给予巨大的帮助
*He knew he had hurt her and begged her to forgive him. 他自知伤了她的心而央求她原谅. Entreat, implore and beseech are stronger and more formal than beg *entreat, implore, beseech三词均比beg的词义强而文雅
*He entreated/implored/beseeched her not to desert him. 他恳求她不要抛弃他.