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March 24, 2026
请(請)qǐng(qing3)
请 (qǐng) is a versatile verb that means 'to ask,' 'to invite,' or 'please (do something).' It is commonly used in polite requests or invitations, making it an essential word for daily interactions in Mandarin. The nuance often conveys respect and courtesy, especially when asking someone to do something or inviting them to an event.
Strokes10Radical讠Frequency#142DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, politeness is highly valued, and using 请 when making requests is a way to show respect. It is often used in formal settings, such as business meetings or when interacting with elders, reflecting the cultural emphasis on hierarchy and courtesy.
Memory Tip
Imagine a polite person holding a sign that says 'Please!' in big, friendly letters. The character 请 resembles a person inviting others to join them, with the top part suggesting a welcoming gesture. Remember 'qǐng' sounds like 'ching,' which can remind you of a bell ringing to call someone over politely.
Meanings of 请
qǐng(qing3)
1to ask
2to invite
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 请
请Simplified
請Traditional
10Strokes
讠Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#142Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 请
Podcast: 请
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AI Study Notes for 请
Quick Contrast
邀请 (yāoqǐng) vs 请 (qǐng): use 请 for polite requests or invitations, while 邀请 specifically denotes the act of inviting someone to an event.
Usage Notes
When using 请, it's important to follow it with a verb to complete your request, e.g., 请你来 (qǐng nǐ lái - please come). Learners often mistakenly use 请 in overly casual situations, but it is generally more formal and polite. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that may not carry the same meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 请 connects well with other introductory vocabulary that involves polite requests and social interactions. Students should focus on pairing 请 with verbs and practicing simple sentences to gain confidence in using it naturally in conversation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to include a verb after 请, leading to incomplete requests like 请我 (qǐng wǒ - please me). It should be 请你帮我 (qǐng nǐ bāng wǒ - please help me) instead.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 请
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Simplified form of 請. Phonosemantic compound. 言 represents the meaning and 青 represents the sound.
1The meaning half讠 carries the sense.
2The sound half青 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayspeech
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 请? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 请?
Decomposition of 请
IDS Structure⿰讠青
请Full Character
=
讠yan2
left
青Qing1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 请?
How to say to ask in Chinese
“to ask” in Chinese is请qǐng
请 (qǐng) is a versatile verb that means 'to ask,' 'to invite,' or 'please (do something).' It is commonly used in polite requests or invitations, making it an essential word for daily interactions in Mandarin. The nuance often conveys respect and courtesy, especially when asking someone to do something or inviting them to an event.
When to use 请
When using 请, it's important to follow it with a verb to complete your request, e.g., 请你来 (qǐng nǐ lái - please come). Learners often mistakenly use 请 in overly casual situations, but it is generally more formal and polite. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that may not carry the same meaning.
请 or something close to it
邀请 (yāoqǐng) vs 请 (qǐng): use 请 for polite requests or invitations, while 邀请 specifically denotes the act of inviting someone to an event.
What learners get wrong
Learners often forget to include a verb after 请, leading to incomplete requests like 请我 (qǐng wǒ - please me). It should be 请你帮我 (qǐng nǐ bāng wǒ - please help me) instead.
Write 请
请
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Practice writing 请 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 请
请 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
