Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== qǐng: 请 - Please, To Ask, To Invite, To Treat ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** Chinese for please, how to say please in Chinese, qing Chinese meaning, 请 meaning, Chinese verb please, how to use qing, qingwen, qing zuo, qing ke, invite in Chinese, ask in Chinese, Chinese politeness * **Summary:** Unlock the power of politeness in Chinese with '请' (qǐng), one of the first and most important words you'll learn. More than just "please," 请 (qǐng) is a versatile verb used to politely ask questions, invite friends to dinner, request an action, or even treat someone to a meal. This guide will teach you the meaning, cultural significance, and practical examples of using 请 (qǐng) correctly, from the essential phrase '请问' (qǐngwèn) to the socially important act of '请客' (qǐngkè). ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** qǐng * **Part of Speech:** Verb, Adverb (as a polite marker) * **HSK Level:** HSK 1 * **Concise Definition:** A versatile word used to mean "please," "to invite," "to ask," or "to treat" someone. * **In a Nutshell:** 请 (qǐng) is the cornerstone of politeness in Mandarin. It's not just a word you sprinkle into sentences like the English "please." Instead, think of it as a verb that frames your entire sentence with respect. It transforms a command into a polite invitation or a question into a respectful inquiry. Using 请 (qǐng) shows good manners, deference, and social awareness, making it an indispensable tool for smooth communication. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **请 (qǐng):** This character is a phono-semantic compound, meaning one part gives the meaning and the other gives the sound. * **讠(yán):** This is the "speech" radical. It's derived from the character 言 (yán), meaning "words" or "to speak." Any character with this radical is almost always related to language, speaking, or asking. * **青 (qīng):** This character means "blue-green" or "youth." In 请, it acts as the phonetic component, providing the sound. The pronunciation of 青 (qīng) is very similar to 请 (qǐng). * Together, the "speech" radical and the "qīng" sound create **请 (qǐng)**, a word for a polite form of speech: a request. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * In Chinese culture, showing respect (尊敬, zūnjìng) and maintaining social harmony (和谐, héxié) are paramount. The word **请 (qǐng)** is a direct linguistic reflection of these values. It's not just about being polite; it's about actively demonstrating respect for the other person's position, age, or status as a guest. * **Comparison to Western Culture:** In English, "please" is an adverb that softens a command. "Pass the salt" is a command; "Pass the salt, please" is a polite command. In Chinese, **请 (qǐng)** functions more like a verb that makes the entire action an offering. For example, **请坐 (qǐng zuò)** is better translated as "I invite you to sit" rather than "Sit, please." This subtle shift elevates the other person, making them the recipient of a respectful invitation rather than an order. This is especially true when hosting guests, where using **请 (qǐng)** for every action (please enter, please sit, please have some tea) is a sign of a good host. * The act of **请客 (qǐngkè)**, or treating someone to a meal, is a cornerstone of building and maintaining [[关系]] (guānxi). It's a way to show gratitude, build goodwill, and give [[面子]] (miànzi), or "face," to your guest. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **请 (qǐng)** is used constantly in daily life. Its meaning is highly dependent on the context and the verb that follows it. === 1. As "Please" (A Polite Marker) === This is its most common use. The structure is always **请 + Verb**. * **请进 (qǐng jìn):** Please come in. * **请坐 (qǐng zuò):** Please sit down. * **请等一下 (qǐng děng yíxià):** Please wait a moment. === 2. To Ask a Question === **请问 (qǐngwèn)**, literally "invite to ask," is the standard way to politely preface a question to a stranger. It's equivalent to "Excuse me, may I ask...?" * **请问，去火车站怎么走？ (Qǐngwèn, qù huǒchēzhàn zěnme zǒu?):** Excuse me, how do I get to the train station? === 3. As "To Invite" === Here, **请 (qǐng)** functions as a full verb meaning "to invite." The structure is **请 + Person + Action**. * **我请你吃饭。(Wǒ qǐng nǐ chīfàn.):** I'm inviting you to eat. / I'll treat you to a meal. * **他请我们去他家玩。(Tā qǐng wǒmen qù tā jiā wán.):** He invited us to go hang out at his house. === 4. As "To Treat" (To Pay for Someone) === This is a very common extension of the "invite" meaning, especially in social situations. * **今天我请客。(Jīntiān wǒ qǐngkè.):** It's my treat today. * **这杯咖啡我请了。(Zhè bēi kāfēi wǒ qǐng le.):** I've got this cup of coffee. / This coffee is on me. === 5. As "To Request" or "To Hire" === In more formal or specific contexts, **请 (qǐng)** means to formally request something or hire someone for a service. * **请假 (qǐngjià):** To request a leave of absence (from work or school). * **我们请了一位阿姨打扫卫生。(Wǒmen qǐngle yí wèi āyí dǎsǎo wèishēng.):** We hired a cleaning lady (lit. an "auntie") to clean. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * **请进**，**请坐**！ * Pinyin: **Qǐng jìn**, **qǐng zuò**! * English: Please come in, please sit down! * Analysis: These are two of the most basic and essential polite phrases used when welcoming a guest into your home or office. * **Example 2:** * **请问**，洗手间在哪里？ * Pinyin: **Qǐngwèn**, xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ? * English: Excuse me, where is the restroom? * Analysis: **请问 (qǐngwèn)** is the go-to phrase for politely getting a stranger's attention to ask for information. * **Example 3:** * 老师，我没听懂，**请**您再说一遍。 * Pinyin: Lǎoshī, wǒ méi tīng dǒng, **qǐng** nín zài shuō yí biàn. * English: Teacher, I didn't understand, could you please say that again? * Analysis: Using **请 (qǐng)** with the formal "you," [[您]] (nín), shows extra respect, which is appropriate when speaking to a teacher or an elder. * **Example 4:** * 服务员，**请**给我一杯水，谢谢。 * Pinyin: Fúwùyuán, **qǐng** gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ, xièxie. * English: Waiter, please give me a glass of water, thank you. * Analysis: A standard, polite way to make a request in a restaurant or service environment. * **Example 5:** * 我下个周末想**请**你来参加我的生日派对。 * Pinyin: Wǒ xià ge zhōumò xiǎng **qǐng** nǐ lái cānjiā wǒ de shēngrì pàiduì. * English: I'd like to invite you to my birthday party next weekend. * Analysis: Here, **请 (qǐng)** is clearly used as the verb "to invite." * **Example 6:** * 别跟我客气，这顿饭我**请客**。 * Pinyin: Bié gēn wǒ kèqi, zhè dùn fàn wǒ **qǐngkè**. * English: Don't be so polite with me, this meal is my treat. * Analysis: **请客 (qǐngkè)** is a set phrase meaning "to be the host" or "to treat someone." It's a common phrase used when fighting over the bill. * **Example 7:** * 他生病了，所以跟公司**请**了三天假。 * Pinyin: Tā shēngbìng le, suǒyǐ gēn gōngsī **qǐng**le sān tiān jià. * English: He was sick, so he requested three days of leave from the company. * Analysis: This demonstrates the use of the set phrase **请假 (qǐngjià)**, "to request leave." * **Example 8:** * **请**大家保持安静，考试马上开始。 * Pinyin: **Qǐng** dàjiā bǎochí ānjìng, kǎoshì mǎshàng kāishǐ. * English: Everyone, please remain quiet, the exam is about to begin. * Analysis: **请 (qǐng)** can be used to politely address a group of people. * **Example 9:** * 我们**请**了一位专家来解决这个问题。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen **qǐng**le yí wèi zhuānjiā lái jiějué zhège wèntí. * English: We hired an expert to solve this problem. * Analysis: This shows the formal usage of **请 (qǐng)** to mean "to hire" or "to retain the services of" someone. * **Example 10:** * **请**慢用。 * Pinyin: **Qǐng** màn yòng. * English: Please enjoy your meal (literally "Please slowly use/eat"). * Analysis: A common, polite phrase said by a host or waiter after serving food. It's a warmer equivalent of "Bon appétit." ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Mistake 1: Wrong Placement.** English speakers often want to put "please" at the end of a sentence ("Sit down, please."). This is incorrect in Mandarin. **请 (qǐng)** must always come **before** the verb. * **Incorrect:** 坐下，**请**。(Zuòxià, qǐng.) * **Correct:** **请**坐下。(Qǐng zuòxià.) * **Mistake 2: Overusing it in casual transactions.** While **请 (qǐng)** means "please," it's too formal for simple, quick transactions like buying a water bottle. Saying **请给我一瓶水 (qǐng gěi wǒ yì píng shuǐ)** is grammatically fine, but sounds overly stiff. It's more natural to say **我要一瓶水 (wǒ yào yì píng shuǐ)**, "I want a bottle of water," and then say **谢谢 (xièxie)** when you receive it. Politeness is shown with "thank you" in this context, not "please." * **"False Friend" Nuance:** **请 (qǐng)** is not a direct one-to-one translation of "please." "Please" is an adverb that softens a command. **请 (qǐng)** is a verb that *initiates* a polite action. The feeling of **请坐 (qǐng zuò)** is "I respectfully invite you to be seated," which carries a deeper sense of hospitality and respect than the English "Please sit down." Understanding this verb-like nature is key to mastering its use. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[谢谢]] (xièxie) - "Thank you." The natural follow-up after someone has fulfilled a request made with **请 (qǐng)**. * [[麻烦]] (máfan) - "To trouble (someone); troublesome." Can be used informally to start a request, similar to "Sorry to bother you..." (e.g., `麻烦你，帮我一下 - Máfán nǐ, bāng wǒ yíxià`). It's often less formal than **请问 (qǐngwèn)**. * [[不客气]] (bú kèqi) - "You're welcome." The standard reply to [[谢谢]] (xièxie). It literally means "don't be so polite/formal," which directly relates to the polite nature of **请 (qǐng)**. * [[邀请]] (yāoqǐng) - A more formal, two-character verb for "to invite." While **请 (qǐng)** is common in speech, **邀请 (yāoqǐng)** is often used in written invitations and more formal announcements. * [[请求]] (qǐngqiú) - "To request; to petition." A much stronger and more formal word than **请 (qǐng)**. It's used when asking for something significant, like asking for assistance from a government body. * [[请假]] (qǐngjià) - A common set phrase: "to ask for leave/time off" from work or school. * [[请客]] (qǐngkè) - A common set phrase: "to treat someone (to a meal, etc.); to play the host." * [[您]] (nín) - The formal and polite version of "you" (你, nǐ). It is frequently used with **请 (qǐng)** to show a higher level of respect.