Chinese word

哀求

Pronunciation

Pinyināi qiú

Meaning

  • verbbeg

Example

她向老师哀求多给她一次机会。tā xiàng lǎo shī āi qiú duō gěi tā yí cì jī huì

She begged her teacher to give her one more chance.

Illustration for 哀求 (beg)

More examples

他在法庭上向法官哀求减刑。tā zài fǎ tíng shàng xiàng fǎ guān āi qiú jiǎn xíng

He pleaded with the judge in court for a reduced sentence.

Core concept

A sorrowful, desperate appeal for help, mercy, or another chance.

Common phrases

  • 苦苦哀求帮助kú kǔ āi qiú bāng zhù

    desperately beg for help

  • 向法官哀求减刑xiàng fǎ guān āi qiú jiǎn xíng

    plead with the judge for a reduced sentence

  • 向公众哀求原谅xiàng gōng zhòng āi qiú yuán liàng

    beg the public for forgiveness

Similar words

请求qǐng qiú: Request something needed or ask someone to allow something.
恳求kěn qiú: Make a serious, heartfelt appeal for help, mercy, or a favor.
求助qiú zhù: Turn to someone for help in a difficult situation.
乞求qǐ qiú: Beg urgently and desperately to obtain something from someone.

Definition in Chinese

以悲伤或哀怨的语气向别人请求帮助或宽恕，带有强烈的恳求和无奈意味。yǐ bēi shāng huò āi yuàn de yǔ qì xiàng bié rén qǐng qiú bāng zhù huò kuān shù dài yǒu qiáng liè de kěn qiú hé wú nài yì wèi

Word origin

哀 (āi, "sorrow") + 求 (qiú, "seek") joins sadness with the act of seeking something from another person, giving the verb its forceful, helpless tone.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this verb usually belongs to high-stakes moments, so it can sound overly dramatic when the request is small or routine.

Other meanings

  • pleadverb
  • imploreverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 哀求者āi qiú zhěsupplicantnoun
  • 哀求书āi qiú shūplea letternoun

Word lists with this word