Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 請 / 请 | qǐng |
| 拜託 / 拜托 | bàituō |
請 / 请 is a common term used to make polite requests or to invite someone to do something, such as inviting someone to sit. It can also mean 'to invite' or 'to treat' someone to something, like a meal. 拜託 / 拜托 is used for making earnest, personal or urgent pleas, often conveying a sense of 'I beg of you' or 'I am counting on you'. Additionally, 劳驾 (láo jià) is used to get someone's attention or as a preamble to a request.
Which one should you use?
請 / 请 is used for standard polite or formal requests. In contrast, 拜託 / 拜托 is used for more urgent or emotional situations where you are pleading with someone. While 請 / 请 is a general polite tool, 劳驾 (láo jià) is a specific way to get a person's attention in informal settings.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 請 / 请 to make a request, it is typically placed directly before the verb or the action being requested.
How do you pronounce it?
qǐng
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid placing 請 / 请 at the end of a sentence to mean 'please' as English speakers often do. In Mandarin, it almost always precedes the request.
Did you know?
- In modern slang, 拜託 / 拜托 can be used as an exasperated interjection similar to 'Give me a break!' or 'Come on!' when someone says something ridiculous.
- The word 拜託 / 拜托 contains the character 拜 (bài), which originally depicted a person bowing deeply. This reflects the historical gesture of submission accompanying an earnest plea.
- While 請 / 请 is used for polite requests, it also means 'to treat'. If someone says 我請客 (wǒ qǐng kè), they are announcing that they will pay the bill for everyone.
Examples in context
- 我能请你帮个忙吗？(Wǒ néng qǐng nǐ bāng gè máng ma?)Can I please ask for your help?
- 请问，地铁怎么走？(Qǐng wèn, dìtiě zěnme zǒu?)Excuse me, how do I get to the subway?
- 请您签字确认。(Qǐng nín qiān zì quèrèn.)Please sign and confirm.
- 麻烦你帮我拿一下行李。(Má fan nǐ bāng wǒ ná yíxià xínglǐ.)Could you please help me with the luggage?
- 劳驾，请问这里的邮局在哪里？(Láo jià, qǐng wèn zhèlǐ de yóujú zài nǎlǐ?)Excuse me, could you please tell me where the post office is?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “please” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
