Chinese word

请求

Pronunciation

Pinyinqǐng qiú

Meaning

  • verbask for

Example

我想向你请求帮助。wǒ xiǎng xiàng nǐ qǐng qiú bāng zhù

I want to ask you for help.

Illustration for 请求 (ask for)

More examples

她因迟到向大家请求原谅。tā yīn chí dào xiàng dà jiā qǐng qiú yuán liàng

She asked everyone for forgiveness for being late.

Core concept

A stated wish for help or action that can range from a polite appeal to a forceful demand.

Common phrases

  • 请求帮助qǐng qiú bāng zhù

    ask for help

  • 请求原谅qǐng qiú yuán liàng

    ask for forgiveness

Similar words

要求yāo qiú: Strongly require someone to do something.
请qǐng: Politely ask someone to do something.
帮忙bāng máng: Ask someone to help with something.
拜托bài tuō: Casually ask someone familiar for a favor in everyday speech.

Definition in Chinese

向他人表达希望对方提供帮助或处理事务的礼貌性请求，既可口头也可书面使用。xiàng tā rén biǎo dá xī wàng duì fāng tí gōng bāng zhù huò chú lǐ shì wù de lǐ mào xìng qǐng qiú jì kě kǒu tóu yě kě shū miàn shǐ yòng

Word origin

请求 (qǐngqiú, "ask for") joins 请 (qǐng, "please") + 求 (qiú, "seek"), giving the word a built-in sense of seeking something through a respectful appeal.

Usage tips

  • A request to a school or office often uses this formal word, whereas a child speaking to a close friend usually chooses a simpler everyday expression.

Other meanings

  • demandverb
  • begverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word