To ask, request, or seek permission through spoken words.
Please; to invite, request politely, or treat someone to something. Speech radical (讠) beside 青 (blue-green): asking as clearly as a blue sky.
请
Common Usage & Traps
- 请坐 — please sit
- 请问 — excuse me, may I ask
- 请说 — please go ahead, please speak
- 请喝茶 — please have some tea
- 我请你吃饭 — I'm treating you to a meal
- 请来我家 — please come to my home
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请坐你请坐请坐 already means 'you sit'; adding 你 after 坐 breaks the word order.
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我请吃饭你我请你吃饭If 请 means invite or treat, the person goes right after 请, before the verb.
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谢谢 — 请谢谢 — 不客气请 is not a reply to thanks. Use 不客气 or 没关系.
Why does 我请你吃饭 mean 'I'm treating you to dinner' when 请 usually means please?
请 flips to 'invite or treat' when a person comes right after it.
请 means please when it comes before a verb. It means invite or treat when a person follows it. So 请坐 is 'please sit,' but 我请你吃饭 is 'I treat you to a meal.' The person after 请 is the one invited, not the polite target. If you say 我请吃饭你, the word order is broken. The rule is simple: 请 + person = invite or treat; 请 + verb = please do it.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Polite request | 请坐。 | 请坐你。 |
| Treating someone | 我请你吃饭。 | 我请吃饭你。 |
| Inviting someone | 我请他来。 | 我请来他。 |
Why do people say 请问 before a question if it doesn't literally mean 'please ask'?
请问 is not a literal request to ask; it is a polite attention-getter.
请问 is a fixed opener. It does not mean you are asking permission to ask. It works like 'excuse me' or 'sorry, quick question.' Use it before a question with strangers, staff, or in class. Without it, the question is still correct but can sound more direct. 请问，这个字怎么读？ is softer than 这个字怎么读？
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Asking a stranger | 请问，王老师在吗？ | 王老师在吗？ can sound blunt |
| Asking for a place | 请问，商店在哪儿？ | 商店在哪儿？ can sound direct |
| In class | 请问，这个字怎么读？ | 这个字怎么读？ is okay but more direct |
Can adding 请 to a request ever make you sound cold or sarcastic?
请 usually adds politeness, but overusing it with close friends can feel distant.
请 usually raises politeness in service, public, or formal settings. With close friends, it can sound stiff or like a joke. A friend asking for a favor may just say 你喝茶 or 坐, not 请喝茶. Sarcastic 请你坐下 can sound bossy instead of polite. So 请 is polite, but not always warm.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Formal host | 请喝茶。 | 喝茶。 can sound less polite |
| Close friend | 你喝茶。 | 请喝茶。 can feel distant |
| Sarcastic tone | 请坐。 | 请你坐下。 can sound cold |
Appears in Stories 9 stories
Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.
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一天，胡之适 邀请 元真到他研究院的办公室去做客。
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请 帮他检查治疗。
Everyday greetings are a gateway to natural Chinese. Practice time-based hellos like “早上好” and “晚安,” learn to address teachers with the respectful “您,” and see how families skip formalities to speak warmly at home.
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这边 请 ， 请进 请坐 请 喝茶；
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家人、朋友关系好，“谢谢”、“您”、“ 请 ”太客气，在家说话不客气，可以不说“您和 请 ”。
Before you read, think about the questions you ask every day. This simple poem shows you how to ask age, price, time, and more in friendly Chinese.
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问问题，要知道，问老师，说“ 请问 ”。
In this HSK 1 story, two old friends from Britain and China share a meal with their girlfriends. A simple question about who pays leads to a clever and funny solution.
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我们两个今天 请 女朋友吃饭。
In this dialogue, two people chat while waiting outside a cinema. You'll hear common phrases for talking about hobbies, sports, and movie preferences.
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Ｂ：可以， 请 说。
Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.
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但谢安不想做官，多次拒绝了朝廷的 邀请 ，就住在会稽的东山（今天的浙江省会稽山），和朋友一起游玩。
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
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今天，热茶做好了， 请 您喝。”
Join a family on a sweltering Beijing Sunday as a boy learns a funny lesson about playing outside in the summer heat. Perfect for HSK 1 learners.
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请 给我五块钱吧。
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
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谁看见我的大白猫大白， 请 打电话给三号房间。”
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