Questiono se
직역: I question if
Use it to express doubt or reflection politely without sounding aggressive or completely ignorant.
15초 만에
- A polite way to say 'I wonder if' or 'I doubt'.
- Used for expressing thoughtful uncertainty or soft disagreement.
- Common in professional, academic, or serious personal conversations.
뜻
This is a polite and thoughtful way to say 'I wonder if' or 'I question whether'. It is used when you are reflecting on a possibility or expressing a gentle doubt about something.
주요 예문
3 / 6In a business meeting
Questiono se esta é a melhor estratégia para o mercado atual.
I wonder if this is the best strategy for the current market.
Texting a friend about a party
Questiono se vai haver gente suficiente para a festa ser animada.
I wonder if there will be enough people for the party to be lively.
Discussing a movie ending
Questiono se o protagonista realmente sobreviveu no final.
I question whether the protagonist actually survived at the end.
문화적 배경
In Portuguese-speaking cultures, direct confrontation is often avoided in favor of 'diplomacy'. This phrase is a hallmark of the 'educated' register, showing that the speaker is thoughtful and values nuance over bluntness. It is particularly popular in Brazilian 'juridiquês' (legal jargon) and Portuguese political discourse.
The 'Soft' Disagreement
If you think someone is wrong but don't want to be mean, start with `Questiono se...`. It makes the other person feel like you're exploring an idea together rather than attacking them.
Don't over-use it with friends
If you use this phrase while grabbing a beer, you might sound a bit like a philosophy professor. Stick to `Será que` for super casual vibes.
15초 만에
- A polite way to say 'I wonder if' or 'I doubt'.
- Used for expressing thoughtful uncertainty or soft disagreement.
- Common in professional, academic, or serious personal conversations.
What It Means
Questiono se is your go-to phrase for expressing intellectual curiosity or mild skepticism. It is less blunt than saying 'I don't believe' and more sophisticated than 'I don't know'. When you use it, you are inviting others to think along with you. It suggests you are weighing options in your mind. It is the verbal equivalent of tapping your chin while looking at a menu or a complex project plan.
How To Use It
You follow the phrase directly with the doubt or possibility you are considering. For example, Questiono se devíamos sair agora (I wonder if we should leave now). It works perfectly with verbs in the present or conditional tense. You don't need fancy connectors. Just drop it at the start of your thought. It makes you sound like a deep thinker who considers all angles. Plus, it’s a great way to disagree without being confrontational.
When To Use It
Use it in professional meetings to suggest a different path. It works beautifully when texting a friend about weekend plans that seem a bit over-ambitious. Use it at a restaurant when you aren't sure if one pizza is enough for four people. It’s perfect for those 'shower thoughts' you share with a partner. If you want to sound analytical but still approachable, this is your phrase. It’s very common in academic writing or serious journalism too.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid it in high-stress, emergency situations. If the house is on fire, don't say Questiono se devíamos sair. Just run! It’s also a bit too 'heavy' for very basic, impulsive questions. Don't use it for 'I wonder what time it is'—that’s too much drama for a clock. Also, if you are 100% certain about something, using this will make you sound sarcastic or passive-aggressive. Use it only when there is a genuine shadow of a doubt.
Cultural Background
Portuguese culture values 'educação'—which isn't just school education, but good manners and social grace. Being too direct can sometimes feel rude or aggressive in Portugal or Brazil. Questiono se provides a linguistic cushion. It allows for 'soft' disagreement. Historically, the Portuguese language loves using verbs that express internal states to navigate social hierarchies. It shows you are a person of 'reflexão' (reflection).
Common Variations
You might hear Pergunto-me se which is more like 'I ask myself'. There is also Duvido que, but that is much stronger and means 'I doubt that'. In casual speech, people often just say Será que...?. That one is the younger, more relaxed cousin of Questiono se. If you want to sound extra formal, you could say Ponho em causa se, but save that for your legal defense or a philosophy thesis!
사용 참고사항
This phrase sits firmly in the B2 level because it requires a sense of social register. It is formal but not archaic. It is most effective in written correspondence or professional discussions.
The 'Soft' Disagreement
If you think someone is wrong but don't want to be mean, start with `Questiono se...`. It makes the other person feel like you're exploring an idea together rather than attacking them.
Don't over-use it with friends
If you use this phrase while grabbing a beer, you might sound a bit like a philosophy professor. Stick to `Será que` for super casual vibes.
The Brazilian Nuance
In Brazil, this phrase is often used in news debates. It gives the speaker an air of authority and critical thinking.
예시
6Questiono se esta é a melhor estratégia para o mercado atual.
I wonder if this is the best strategy for the current market.
A polite way to challenge a proposal.
Questiono se vai haver gente suficiente para a festa ser animada.
I wonder if there will be enough people for the party to be lively.
Expressing a mild concern about social plans.
Questiono se o protagonista realmente sobreviveu no final.
I question whether the protagonist actually survived at the end.
Engaging in a friendly debate about a story.
Questiono se conseguimos comer tudo isto sozinhos.
I wonder if we can eat all of this by ourselves.
A humorous observation about ordering too much food.
Às vezes, questiono se estamos a caminhar na mesma direção.
Sometimes, I wonder if we are moving in the same direction.
Expressing deep, serious personal doubt.
Questiono se seria possível agendar uma breve reunião.
I wonder if it would be possible to schedule a brief meeting.
A very polite way to make a request.
셀프 테스트
Choose the best option to express a polite doubt in a meeting.
___ se temos orçamento para este projeto.
`Questiono se` is the standard way to introduce a doubt about a specific condition like a budget.
Complete the sentence to wonder about the weather.
Questiono ___ vai chover durante o piquenique.
The word `se` (if/whether) always follows `questiono` when expressing this type of uncertainty.
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시각 학습 자료
Formality of Expressing Doubt
Casual curiosity
Será que...?
Standard questioning
Pergunto-me se...
Intellectual doubt
Questiono se...
Legal/Academic challenge
Ponho em causa se...
Where to use 'Questiono se'
Office Meeting
Questioning a deadline
Book Club
Doubting a character's motive
Serious Talk
Discussing future plans
Formal Email
Asking for a favor politely
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문Not exactly. While perguntar is to ask a question, questionar is to challenge or reflect on something. Use Questiono se when you are pondering a possibility.
Yes, it is perfect for that! It shows you are thinking critically about the work without being disrespectful. For example: Questiono se este prazo é realista.
No, Duvido que (I doubt that) is much stronger and usually requires the subjunctive mood. Questiono se is more tentative and gentle.
Yes, it is used in both countries, though it always carries a slightly formal or intellectual tone in both places.
The most common casual version is Será que.... For example, Será que vai chover? instead of Questiono se vai chover.
Usually, you use the indicative (normal) tense. Questiono se ele vem (I wonder if he is coming). You don't need the complex subjunctive here.
No, that would be very weird. Just use Pode dizer-me as horas?. Questiono se is for ideas and doubts, not simple facts.
Yes, if the topic is a bit serious or if you want to sound eloquent. If you're just asking 'where are you?', it's too much.
Only if used excessively. In the right context, it just sounds like you are a careful, analytical person.
Yes! Questionei-me se... means 'I wondered if...'. It’s a great way to recount a story where you had doubts.
관련 표현
Será que
I wonder if / Could it be that (Casual)
Pergunto-me se
I ask myself if
Tenho dúvidas se
I have doubts whether
Ponho em causa
I call into question
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