HSK · Level 110
45 words
Chinese word
讨
Pronunciation
Pinyintǎo
Meaning
- verbbeg for
Example
孩子在商店门口讨糖果。hái zi zài shāng diàn mén kǒu tǎo táng guǒ
The child is begging for candy at the entrance to the store.
More examples
她常向父母讨零花钱。tā cháng xiàng fù mǔ tǎo líng huā qián
She often begs her parents for pocket money.
Core concept
Words are used to pull something from another person, with the request carrying either a pleading tone or a forceful edge.
Common phrases
讨零花钱tǎo líng huā qián
beg for pocket money
讨糖果tǎo táng guǒ
beg for candy
讨笔记tǎo bǐ jì
beg for a notebook
Similar words
请求qǐng qiú: Request help or approval in a polite or formal way.
要求yāo qiú: State a firm demand for something needed or required.
恳求kěn qiú: Beg desperately for help or forgiveness.
Definition in Chinese
以言辞或态度向别人索要某物或好处，语气可带有恳求或强求的成分。yǐ yán cí huò tài dù xiàng bié rén suǒ yào mǒu wù huò hǎo chù yǔ qì kě dài yǒu kěn qiú huò qiǎng qiú de chéng fèn
Word origin
The modern sense of 讨 (tǎo, "to beg for") developed from the broader idea of seeking or pursuing something, with its speech component fitting pursuit through spoken requests.
Usage tips
- The word is not the neutral choice for every request in Chinese, since it adds the idea of seeking a favor or pressing for something; context determines whether that sounds mild or demanding.