How to say "inquiry" in Japanese

• 質問しつもんJLPT N5approx.Common
  suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectiveCovers the everyday sense of inquiry as a question you ask someone to get information. The neutral, all-purpose word for asking something in conversation, class, or Q&A sessions.
  その事故じこについて彼かれに質問しつもんした。↗

  I asked him about the accident.
• 調査ちょうさJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbAn inquiry in the sense of an investigation or examination into facts, such as a survey, research study, or official probe into a matter. The typical word for systematic fact-finding.
  その調査ちょうさは進行中しんこうちゅうです。↗

  The investigation is under way.
• 考察こうさつCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbInquiry as thoughtful consideration or examination of a subject, especially in academic or analytical writing. It leans toward reflection and study of a topic rather than asking or official probing.
  「割り当わりあて」という概念がいねんを考察こうさつすることから始はじめよう。↗

  We will begin by considering the concept of "quota".
• 問い合わせといあわせJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounA formal inquiry or query directed to a company, office, or institution, as in contacting a business for information. This is the word you want for customer inquiries and requests for information.
  ご兄弟きょうだいのことはカンザス州かんざすしゅうから問い合といあわせを受うけたばかりです。↗

  We have just received an inquiry from Kansas concerning your brother.
• 捜査そうさJLPT N1approx.Common
  suru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveInquiry only in the sense of a criminal investigation or search by police and detectives. Outside law-enforcement contexts this is seldom the word you want; it really means a criminal search or investigation.
  警察けいさつは事件じけんの捜査そうさをした。↗

  The police looked into that incident.

Use 質問 for a simple question, 「問い合わせ」 for a business inquiry, 調査 for a factual investigation, 捜査 for a criminal one, and 考察 for scholarly inquiry or consideration.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 質問しつもんquestion
• 調査ちょうさinvestigation
• 考察こうさつconsideration
• 問い合わせといあわせinquiry
• 捜査そうさsearch (esp. in criminal investigations)
• 見舞いみまいvisit (to someone affected by illness or misfortune)
• 探査たんさprobe
• 取り調べとりしらべinvestigation (e.g. by police or prosecutors)
• 照会しょうかいinquiry
• 査問さもんinquiry
• 審問しんもんtrial
• 吟味ぎんみclose examination
• 探究たんきゅうresearch
• 諮問しもんconsultation
• 論考ろんこうstudy (of)
• 尋ねたずねquestion
• 糾問きゅうもんinquiry
• 聞き合せききあわせinquiry
• 事情聴取じじょうちょうしゅinquiry
• お尋ねおたずねinquiry
• プローブprobe
• 下問かもんenquiry
• 考究こうきゅうinvestigation
• お見舞いおみまいvisit (to someone affected by illness or misfortune)
• 諮詢しじゅんquestion
• お問い合わせおといあわせenquiry
• 問いかけといかけquery
• 伺いうかがいinquiry
• 引き合いひきあいinquiry (about a product, business deal, etc.)
• お伺いおうかがいinquiry
• 詮議せんぎinvestigation (into a suspect)