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请客 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
请客qǐngkèto give a dinner partyHSK 3, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #6402, Medium
请客qǐngkèto entertain guestsHSK 3, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #6402, Medium
请客qǐngkèto invite to dinnerHSK 3, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #6402, Medium
qǐngkè(qing3ke4)qing ke T3
  1. 1to give a dinner party
  2. 2to entertain guests
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March 24, 2026

请客(請客)qǐngkè(qing3ke4)

请客 (qǐng kè) means to host or treat guests, often by inviting them to a meal or gathering. It's commonly used in social contexts where one person takes on the responsibility of providing food or entertainment for others, signaling hospitality and generosity.

Strokes19Frequency#6402DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, treating guests to a meal is a significant way to show respect and strengthen relationships. The practice of 请客 is deeply rooted in the tradition of hospitality, where refusing an invitation can be seen as impolite.

Memory Tip

Imagine a host (请, qǐng) holding a dinner party for guests (客, kè) with a big smile. The character 请 looks like a person asking nicely to treat others, and 客 can remind you of a 'guest' arriving at the door with a gift, creating a vivid image of hospitality.

Meanings of 请客

qǐngkè(qing3ke4)
1to give a dinner party
2to entertain guests
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About 请客

请客Simplified
請客Traditional
19Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

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Podcast: 请客

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AI Study Notes for 请客

Quick Contrast

请客 (qǐng kè) vs 招待 (zhāodài): use 请客 when emphasizing the act of treating guests, while 招待 focuses more on the act of receiving or serving guests.

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tone; 请 (qǐng) is pronounced with a third tone, while 客 (kè) is pronounced with a fourth tone. It's often used in informal settings, but can also appear in formal invitations. Common collocations include 请客吃饭 (invite someone to eat) and 请客喝茶 (invite someone for tea).

HSK Study Tips

请客 is not an HSK vocabulary word, but it's useful for intermediate learners as it incorporates the characters 请 (please) and 客 (guest). Students should focus on using it in appropriate contexts and pairing it with other related terms like 邀请 (yāo qǐng, to invite).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 请客 with 请 (to ask) and forget the context of hosting. For example, saying '我请客' (I ask guests) instead of '我请客吃饭' (I treat guests to dinner) can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 请客

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Component Characters

请qǐngto ask
HSK 110 strokes讠
View full entry
客kècustomer
HSK 19 strokes宀
View full entry

How to say to give a dinner party in Chinese

“to give a dinner party” in Chinese is请客qǐngkè

请客 (qǐng kè) means to host or treat guests, often by inviting them to a meal or gathering. It's commonly used in social contexts where one person takes on the responsibility of providing food or entertainment for others, signaling hospitality and generosity.

When to use 请客

Be careful with the tone; 请 (qǐng) is pronounced with a third tone, while 客 (kè) is pronounced with a fourth tone. It's often used in informal settings, but can also appear in formal invitations. Common collocations include 请客吃饭 (invite someone to eat) and 请客喝茶 (invite someone for tea).

请客 or something close to it

请客 (qǐng kè) vs 招待 (zhāodài): use 请客 when emphasizing the act of treating guests, while 招待 focuses more on the act of receiving or serving guests.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 请客 with 请 (to ask) and forget the context of hosting. For example, saying '我请客' (I ask guests) instead of '我请客吃饭' (I treat guests to dinner) can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 请客

请
客

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Frequently Asked Questions about 请客

No, 请客 can refer to inviting guests for any meal or social gathering, not just dinner.

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