請 / 请
qǐng
The English phrase 'please' can be translated into Chinese as 請 / 请 (qǐng). Wiktionary also lists 拜託 / 拜托 (bàituō).
Meaning: interjection to make a polite request (intj)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 請 / 请 | qǐng |
| 拜託 / 拜托 | bàituō |
請 / 请 is a common and versatile way to say please in formal situations. It is often used as a verb meaning 'to invite' or 'to treat' (e.g., 'to treat someone to a meal'). A related form is 討好 / 讨好, which means to make happy or satisfy.
Which one should you use?
請 / 请 is used for polite requests or invitations, such as 'please sit' or 'please enter'. In contrast, 拜託 / 拜托 is used when making a personal favor or pleading with someone, often carrying a sense of 'I'm counting on you' or 'I beg you'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In a request, 請 / 请 is typically placed at the beginning of the sentence or before the verb.
How do you pronounce it?
qǐng
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using 拜託 / 拜托 in formal service contexts (like asking a waiter for water), whereas 請 / 请 is the appropriate choice for polite requests.
Did you know?
- In modern slang, 拜託 / 拜托 is often used as an exasperated interjection similar to 'Give me a break!' or 'Come on!' In this context, it is no longer a polite request.
- In many Chinese social contexts, instead of saying 'please' to ask for a favor, people often use 'trouble' (麻煩, máfan) as a way to acknowledge the effort they are requesting.
- The term 拜託 / 拜托 literally involves the character 拜, which means 'to bow' or 'to worship'. This reflects a historical gesture of deep humility when asking for a favor.
Examples in context
- 请等一下Please wait for a moment.
- 麻烦你提前准备一下Could you please prepare in advance?
- 麻烦你帮我一个忙Could you do me a favor, please?
- 请你帮我拿一下书Can you please help me with taking the book?
- 请你等我一分钟Please wait for me one minute.
- 帮忙拿一下水杯Can you please help me get the water glass?
- 帮忙解释一下这个词的意思Can you please explain the meaning of this word?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “please” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
