请。
Please.
Wörtlich: To invite / To request
Always put '请' before a verb to transform a command into a polite request.
In 15 Sekunden
- Place it at the start of a verb to be polite.
- Means both 'please' and 'to invite' depending on context.
- Essential for restaurants, taxis, and meeting new people.
Bedeutung
It is the magic word for 'please' and 'invite.' You use it to show respect when asking for a favor or offering something to others.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Inviting someone into your home
请进！
Please come in!
Ordering coffee at a cafe
请给我一杯咖啡。
Please give me a cup of coffee.
Asking a question to a stranger
请问，洗手间在哪儿？
Excuse me, where is the restroom?
Kultureller Hintergrund
The character contains the 'speech' radical on the left, emphasizing that politeness starts with how we talk. In Chinese culture, the act of 'inviting' (the primary meaning of this character) is the foundation of building social relationships and showing hospitality.
The Word Order Secret
Unlike English where 'please' can go anywhere, in Chinese, '请' almost always starts the sentence.
Don't Over-Please Friends
Using '请' too much with your best friends can actually make you seem cold or distant. Use it sparingly once you're 'inner circle'.
In 15 Sekunden
- Place it at the start of a verb to be polite.
- Means both 'please' and 'to invite' depending on context.
- Essential for restaurants, taxis, and meeting new people.
What It Means
请 is your ultimate politeness tool in Chinese. It translates to 'please,' but it also means 'to invite.' Think of it as a verbal bow. It softens your requests and shows you have good manners. It is the first word you say to make a good impression.
How To Use It
Put 请 at the very beginning of a sentence. It works like a prefix for actions. If you want someone to sit, say 请坐. If you want them to enter, say 请进. It is simple, punchy, and effective. You do not need complex grammar to sound like a pro.
When To Use It
Use it whenever you need something from someone else. Use it at a restaurant when ordering your spicy noodles. Use it in a taxi when giving directions. Use it when meeting your partner's parents for the first time. It is even great for texting when you are asking a quick favor. It turns a command into a polite suggestion.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it with very close friends for tiny things. If you ask a best friend to pass the salt, 请 might sound too distant. It can feel like you are putting up a wall. Also, do not put it at the end of a sentence like in English. Saying 'Help me, please' translates to 请帮我, not '帮我请'. That would just sound confusing!
Cultural Background
Chinese culture places huge value on 'mianzi' or face. Using 请 gives the other person face. It shows you recognize their effort. Historically, it relates to the concept of hosting and hospitality. Even if you are just asking for the time, you are 'inviting' them to help you. It is a small word with a long history of social harmony.
Common Variations
If you want to be extra fancy, use 请问 to say 'Excuse me, may I ask.' If you are paying for dinner, say 我请客. That literally means 'I invite the guest,' but everyone knows it means 'It is on me!' You can also use 请求 for a more serious, formal plea. But for daily life, the single character 请 is your best friend.
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is neutral and safe for almost any situation. Just remember that in Chinese, the 'please' comes before the action, never after.
The Word Order Secret
Unlike English where 'please' can go anywhere, in Chinese, '请' almost always starts the sentence.
Don't Over-Please Friends
Using '请' too much with your best friends can actually make you seem cold or distant. Use it sparingly once you're 'inner circle'.
It's Not Just a Word
When you say '请', a small nod of the head or a hand gesture makes it feel 100% more natural to locals.
Beispiele
6请进！
Please come in!
A standard, warm way to welcome a guest.
请给我一杯咖啡。
Please give me a cup of coffee.
Standard way to order politely in service settings.
请问，洗手间在哪儿？
Excuse me, where is the restroom?
Using 'please ask' is the standard way to say 'excuse me'.
请帮我一下，谢谢！
Please help me for a second, thanks!
Softens the request in a digital chat.
今天我请客！
Today is my treat!
A very popular phrase to show generosity.
请告诉我发生了什么。
Please tell me what happened.
Shows sincerity and care in a difficult moment.
Teste dich selbst
How do you politely ask someone to sit down?
___ 坐。
Putting '请' before the verb '坐' (sit) makes it a polite invitation.
Which phrase means 'It's my treat'?
我 ___ 客。
'请客' is the set expression for hosting or paying for someone else.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Politeness Levels of 'Please'
Dropping '请' with close family.
给我水 (Give me water)
Standard polite daily use.
请坐 (Please sit)
Using '请' with honorifics.
您请 (After you / Please go first)
Where to use '请'
At a Restaurant
请点菜 (Please order)
At the Office
请看这里 (Please look here)
At Home
请进 (Please come in)
On the Street
请问 (May I ask)
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, that is a common mistake for English speakers. Always place 请 before the verb, like 请帮我 (Please help me).
It literally means 'Please ask,' but it functions as 'Excuse me' when you want to ask a question to a stranger.
No, for 'You're welcome' you should use 不客气 or 不用谢. 请 is only for requests or invitations.
You can just say 请 while gesturing toward the item, or say 给你 (Give you) if it is more casual.
Not at all! It shows you have manners. Using 请喝茶 (Please drink tea) is a nice, respectful gesture.
Yes, in some contexts like 请老师 (to hire/engage a teacher), it implies inviting a professional to help you.
请 is general and versatile, while 劳驾 is more like 'Sorry to trouble you' and is often used in Northern China.
It might sound a bit stiff. Usually, family members skip 请 unless it's a very big favor or a formal occasion.
You say 请不要 followed by the action, like 请不要说话 (Please don't talk).
Repeating it makes the invitation feel more enthusiastic and warm, often heard when ushering guests to a table.
Verwandte Redewendungen
请问
Excuse me / May I ask
请客
To treat someone (to a meal, etc.)
请进
Please come in
请坐
Please sit down
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