請 — Fronts a verb to ask someone to do it, softening a command into a polite request.

grammar → 請

TSUMUGU · TBCL 2 (est.) · 語法

請 grammar point · tier 1 · 請 — polite request (please + verb)

· qǐng

Fronts a verb to ask someone to do it, softening a command into a polite request.

字源 FORM what the parts do

Speech (言) with 青 for sound, qīng read at qǐng. The word that opens 請問、請坐.

故事 STORY a scene to remember it by

The words (言) bow at the door before they go out, and the order leaves as a request.

字源記憶法

框 · Frame

請 [optional addressee] [verb phrase]

觸 · Trigger

You want someone to do something and need it to land as a request, not an order.

序 · The move

1open with 請

2name the person if it is not obviousis the addressee already clear from context?

3state the action you want doneis this an action for them to do, not a thing you are inviting or hosting?

例 · Examples

1請please / I ask you你you走過來walk over here。

Please come over here.

界 · Boundary

請 as a full verb (請客, 請假)

Fronting 請 + verb asks the listener to act (請坐 = please sit). 請 + object treats or asks for that thing (請客 = host a meal; 請假 = ask for leave). Front position softens a command; object position is the verb 'to invite / ask for'.

bare imperative (no 請)

走過來 is a flat order; 請走過來 bows it into a request. Same action, 請 supplies the politeness the verb alone lacks.

please as a tail word: 走過來請 → 請走過來

treating 請 like English 'please' on a statement: 我請很累 → 我很累 (請 fronts a request to act, not a feeling)

doubling with a modal of wanting: 請你想坐 → 請坐 / 請你坐

English 'please' can float anywhere in the sentence and attach to any clause; 請 sits at the front of the request and only governs an action asked of the listener.