請 meaning and stroke order
To ask, to request; to invite; please
How to write 請, stroke by stroke
15 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 請
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to ask
- to invite
- please (do sth)
- to treat (to a meal etc)
- to request
How 請 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Speech.
言 gives the meaning and 青 hints at the sound.
Radical: 言 (words), shared by 155 characters on this site.
How to remember 請
請 combines 言 (speech) on the left with 青 (qīng) on the right, which gives the sound. Picture using polite speech to ask someone for something, and 青 reminds you it sounds like qǐng.
請 is the traditional form of 请, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong. It goes at the start of a polite request, and it can also mean to invite or to treat someone to a meal. Example: 我請你吃飯。(Wǒ qǐng nǐ chīfàn.) I'll treat you to dinner.
Common mistake: Learners often write 情 (qíng, feeling) or 清 (qīng, clear) by mistake, since all three share 青. Only 請 has the speech radical 言, and its tone is third tone qǐng, not second or first.
Common words with 請
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 請問 | qǐngwèn | Excuse me, may I ask...? | HSK 1 |
| 請假 | qǐngjià | to request leave of absence | HSK 1 |
| 請進 | qǐng jìn | "please come in" | HSK 1 |
| 請坐 | qǐng zuò | please, have a seat | HSK 1 |
| 請求 | qǐngqiú | to request; to ask; request (CL:個|个[ge4]) | HSK 2 |
| 請客 | qǐngkè | to give a dinner party; to entertain guests | HSK 2 |
| 請教 | qǐngjiào | to ask for guidance; to consult | HSK 3 |
| 申請 | shēnqǐng | to apply for sth; application form (CL:份[fen4]) | HSK 4 |
| 邀請 | yāoqǐng | to invite; invitation | HSK 5 |
| 聘請 | pìnqǐng | to engage; to hire (a lawyer etc) | HSK 6 |
| 請柬 | qǐngjiǎn | invitation card; written invitation | HSK 7-9 |
| 敬請 | jìngqǐng | please (do sth) (deferential form) | HSK 7-9 |
| 請帖 | qǐngtiě | invitation card; written invitation | HSK 7-9 |
| 請便 | qǐngbiàn | Please do as you wish!; You are welcome to do whatever you like! |
Questions about 請
How many strokes are in 請?
請 is written with 15 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 請 mean?
請 (qǐng) means to ask, to request; to invite; please. A common word with it is 请问 (qǐngwèn), meaning "Excuse me, may I ask...?".
How do you pronounce 請?
請 is pronounced qǐng, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 請?
The radical of 請 is 言, which carries the idea of "words". Dictionaries list 請 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 請?
請 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 请, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Does 請 always mean please?
No. It often means to invite or to pay for someone, as in 請客 (qǐngkè), to treat guests. In 我請你 (wǒ qǐng nǐ), it usually means I'm paying, not please.
What is the difference between 請問 and 請教?
請問 (qǐngwèn) is a polite opener like excuse me, may I ask, used for simple questions. 請教 (qǐngjiào) means to ask someone for advice or guidance, and it shows more respect for their knowledge.