对不起
duìbuqǐ
I'm sorry
How to say 'please' in Chinese
请
qǐng
Please
Character breakdown
Grammar and structure
This is a single character meaning 'please'. It is used to make requests polite and can also mean 'invite' in some contexts.
Variations and politeness
麻烦
máfan
trouble — More casual and often used to ask for a favor, like 'Could you do me a favor?'
拜托
bàituō
entrust — Expresses a stronger, pleading request, like 'I beg you'.
Mini dialogue
A
请给我一杯水。
qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ.
Please give me a glass of water.
B
好的，请稍等。
hǎo de, qǐng shāo děng.
Okay, please wait a moment.
When to use it
Appropriate
- When making a polite request, such as asking for something or asking someone to do something.
- When inviting someone to do something, like 'please sit' or 'please come in'.
- When saying 'excuse me' to get someone's attention or ask a question, as in '请问' (may I ask).
Avoid when
- In casual conversations among close friends or family, where it may sound overly formal or distant.
- When the request is already implied by context or tone, adding '请' can sound redundant or stiff.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'please' in Chinese?
The most common way is '请' (qǐng). You can put it at the beginning of a sentence to make a request polite.
How do you pronounce '请'?
It's pronounced 'qǐng' with a third tone, starting mid, dipping down, then rising. The 'q' is like a 'ch' sound but with the tongue further forward.
When do you use '请' in Chinese?
Use '请' when making polite requests, invitations, or when asking for information, like '请问' (excuse me). It's often omitted in casual settings.
More phrases for this situation
Tomyo
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