Learn Polish: Chciałbym zapytać, czy ta opłata jest wysoka. - I would like to ask if this fee is high.

Chciałbym zapytać, czy ta opłata jest wysoka.

I would like to ask if this fee is high.

Breakdown of Chciałbym zapytać, czy ta opłata jest wysoka.

tall / high (of a fee/price)

Questions & Answers about Chciałbym zapytać, czy ta opłata jest wysoka.

Why do we use czy here instead of jeśli for "if"?

In Polish, czy is used for "if" or "whether" when forming an indirect yes/no question. You use jeśli only when "if" sets up a condition, like "If it rains, we will stay home."

Is the comma before czy required?

Yes! In Polish, you must always place a comma before words that start a subordinate clause, such as czy, że (that), or dlaczego (why).

How would a woman say this sentence?

A woman would say chciałabym instead of chciałbym. The -bym ending makes it "I would like," and the -ł- vs -ła- part shows the gender of the speaker (masculine vs feminine).

Why use zapytać instead of pytać?

Zapytać is the perfective version of the verb "to ask." We use it here because you want to ask one specific question and complete the action. Pytać is used for continuous or repeated asking.