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I found this explanation but I don't really understand it.

> 【１】「 **問い** 」は、単に尋ね聞くこと。
>
> 【２】「 **質問**
> 」は、広く一般的に疑問点を問う場合に用いる。教室や会議など公の場での問いに用いることが多いが、私的、個人的な場でも用いる。([source](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/thsrs/11087/meaning/m0u/%E5%95%8F%E3%81%84/))
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2018-07-25T22:44:23.017
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2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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word-choice wago-and-kango
What is the difference between 問い and 質問?
問い{とい}, which is sometimes shortened to 問{とい} is mostly used only in
examinations, as in 問い1 (Question 1). 質問{しつもん} is the general term you call a
sentence that asks for information, as in 先生、質問があります。(Teacher, I have a
question.) You can call a question on an examination as a 質問, but you cannot
refer to a question you ask someone as a 問い.

While we're at it, there are at least two other Japanese words that are also
translated into English as "question" and that is 問題{もんだい} and 疑問{ぎもん}. 問題 is
just the same as 問い when referring to questions (or problems) on an
examination. 疑問 means doubt, or a matter that needs to be dealt with or
considered as in その必要性{ひつようせい}について疑問が生{しょう}じる (A question arises as to whether
it is necessary.)
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2018-07-26T01:09:45.160
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My opinion is different from what the dictionary says...

As a noun, 問い is perhaps closer to _problem_ , but is a fairly literary and
"big" word. Basically it's only used in the following cases:

  1. In serious examinations, where [～せよ](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/49010/5010) is still used. 

> 以下の **問い** に日本語で答えよ。

  2. Important and fundamental questions/problems that may not have an answer (philosophical question, political question, ...). 

>     * そのニュースは、平和とは何なのかという **問い** を国民に投げかけた。
>     * 「時間とは何か」という **問い** に物理学者は挑んでいる。

  3. As a stiff synonym for (good) 疑問 in a context related to education. 

> 英語学習における初心者の **問い** に答える記事

  4. In old novels, stiff literary works, etc. 

> よく五音をいい分け、人と問答会話するをもって、なんぴとにてもこの怪声に対し **問い** を発せば、いちいちその答えを得という
> ([source](https://www.aozora.gr.jp/cards/001021/files/49268_42258.html))

質問 is a common word, and it refers to a question thrown to somebody else,
expecting a concrete answer, either casually or formally. "Where is the
station?" is a typical 質問 but usually not called a 問い. If you ask something to
yourself ("What should I do next?"), that's never a 質問, either.

Maybe we can add this to ["wago is more stiff than kango equivalent"
list](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/58363/5010).
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