HSK Guide

qǐngplease (before a verb)

qǐng (third tone, dipping)qing3

Traditional:

please (before a verb)

HSK 1· HSK 1–4 (classic)verb
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Meanings

  1. please (before a verb)

    Placed before a verb to turn an instruction into a polite request: 请说, 请喝茶, 请写你的名字. It always introduces an action, never a noun on its own.

    verbpolite
  2. to invite; to treat someone (to a meal)

    verb

Character breakdown

  • qǐng (third tone, dipping)

    please; to ask, to request; to invite; to treat someone (to a meal)

    10 strokes⿰讠青Radical

Example sentences

  • 请喝茶。請喝茶。Qǐng (third tone, dipping) (first tone, high and level) chá. (second tone, rising)···

    Have some tea.

  • 请问,医院在哪儿?請問,醫院在哪兒?Qǐngwèn, (third tone, dipping) yīyuàn (first tone, high and level) zài (fourth tone, falling) nǎr? (third tone, dipping)···

    Excuse me, where is the hospital?

Common mistakes

  • Not quite请你的名字。

    Correct请问,你叫什么名字?

    请 introduces a verb, so it cannot mean "please give me…" in front of a noun. To open a question politely, use the fixed opener 请问.