愚問

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 愚問 (ぐもん) is a noun for a foolish or supposedly unworthy question.
• Basic usage: It can modestly preface one's own question or describe answering even seemingly silly questions with care.
  • 愚問かもしれませんが、もう一度説明してください。 — This may be a foolish question, but please explain once more.
  • 先生はどんな愚問にも丁寧に答えた。 — The teacher carefully answered every question, however silly.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Humbling one's own question
  • 愚問かもしれませんが can soften one's own question through modesty, while directly labeling another person's question 愚問 may sound insulting.