拜託
pài-thok
The Hokkien way to say please is 拜託 (pài-thok).
While it can be used to make a polite request, 拜託 is often used as an exclamation to express exasperation or to plead with someone to stop doing something annoying.
Meaning: interjection to make a polite request (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means to entrust something to someone or to beg/implore them.
Which one should you use?
In English, 'please' is frequently used for polite requests like 'Please pass the salt'. In contrast, the Hokkien 拜託 is more heavily weighted toward pleading, begging or expressing exasperation.
How do you pronounce it?
pài-thok
Did you know?
- The first character in 拜託, 拜 (pài), literally means 'to kowtow' or 'bow'. It evokes an image of physical submission that explains why the phrase feels more like 'begging' than a casual English 'please'.
- While 拜託 is used for pleading, Hokkien speakers often use the phrase 請 (chhiáng) for standard polite requests like 'please sit'. This creates a sharp divide between asking for a favor and asking for a service.
- In Hokkien culture, extreme politeness is often expressed through omitting a direct 'please' and instead using honorifics or indirect language to avoid making the other person feel pressured.
Examples in context
- 拜託！Please!This example shows how to use 拜託 as an exclamation for 'Please!'Tatoeba #13234303 by tsunhua, translation #7825834 by tane
- 拜託……Please…This example shows the use of 拜託 as a plea for 'Please…'Tatoeba #13229742 by tsunhua, translation #12997189 by araneo
Example conversation
Zhiming asks Jiayi to help him with a task.
- 志明 Chi-ming佳怡，拜託幫我看這本單子。Ka-yî, pài-thok pāng guá khuànn tsè pún sū-tsú.Jiayi, please help me look over this list.
- 佳怡 Chia-yi好啦，拿來我看。hó-la, ná-lâi guá khuàn.Alright, bring it here for me to see.
- 志明 Chi-ming真的太感謝妳了！tsin-sī thài kám-siā lí liáu!I'm really so grateful to you!
- 佳怡 Chia-yi沒問題，小事一樁。bô m̄-ti̍t, siáu-sū it-tshiong.No problem, it's a small thing.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
