Chinese word

劳烦

Pronunciation

Pinyinláo fán

Meaning

  • verbtrouble

Example

劳烦你把这份表格发给我。láo fán nǐ bǎ zhè fèn biǎo gé fā gěi wǒ

Please take the trouble to send me this form.

Illustration for 劳烦 (trouble)

More examples

请劳烦你把会议时间改到下午。qǐng láo fán nǐ bǎ huì yì shí jiān gǎi dào xià wǔ

Please change the meeting time to the afternoon.

Core concept

A polite request that acknowledges another person's effort and inconvenience.

Common phrases

  • 劳烦你láo fán nǐ

    could you please

  • 劳烦您láo fán nín

    would you please

  • 劳烦你帮个忙láo fán nǐ bāng gè máng

    please do me a favor

Similar words

请qǐng: Makes a simple, polite request for an action or a favor.
麻烦má fán: Makes an everyday request that may put someone to extra trouble.
劳驾láo jià: Politely prompts someone to act or help, with a somewhat formal tone.
打扰dá rǎo: Disturbs someone by taking their time or attention.

Definition in Chinese

用来委婉地表示请对方帮忙，包含“给对方添麻烦”的含义。yòng lái wéi wǎn dì biǎo shì qǐng duì fāng bāng máng bāo hán gěi duì fāng tiān má fán de hán yì

Word origin

劳烦 (láofán, "trouble someone with a task") combines 劳 (láo, "labor") and 烦 (fán, "bother"), turning the idea of causing effort and bother into a courteous request.

Usage tips

  • English "please" marks politeness but does not usually acknowledge the cost of a request, so this verb can sound more considerate and formal than a simple request.

Other meanings

  • inconvenienceverb
  • take up someone's timeverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word