How to Say “Please” in Chinese
Greetings and politeness · new HSK 1
"Please" in Chinese is 请 (qǐng). 请 (qǐng) opens polite requests and literally means "invite". Attach it to the front of any verb: 请坐 (please sit), 请进 (please come in), 请等一下 (please wait).
Primary translation
请
qǐng
Traditional: 請
When to use it
请 (qǐng) opens polite requests and literally means "invite". Attach it to the front of any verb: 请坐 (please sit), 请进 (please come in), 请等一下 (please wait). Unlike English "please", 请 is not usually tacked onto the end. 麻烦 (máfan, "trouble you") is an alternative softener for requests that cost someone effort: 麻烦你 (could you please).
Example sentences
请坐。
Qǐng zuò.
Please sit down.
请给我一杯水。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ.
Please give me a glass of water.
麻烦你帮我一下。
Máfan nǐ bāng wǒ yíxià.
Please help me for a moment.
Related phrases
On the new HSK 1 exam
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