qǐng: 请 - Please, To Ask, To Invite, To Treat

• 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).

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

请 (qǐng) is used constantly in daily life. Its meaning is highly dependent on the context and the verb that follows it.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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 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 qǐngle 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 qǐngle 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.”

• 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.

• 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.