请 qǐng — to ask; to invite; please (do sth); to treat (to a meal; etc); to request
我想请你吃晚饭。Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nǐ chī wǎn fàn.I would like to invite you to dinner.
Common words: 请问 (qǐng wèn)、请假 (qǐng jià)、请进 (qǐng jìn)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "please"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "please", including 请 (qǐng), 祈 (qí). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words, and examples.
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "please" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 请 (qǐng), 祈 (qí) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span qǐng, qí — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 请 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 请 qǐngto ask; to invite; please (do sth); to treat (to a meal; etc); to requestUseful words: 请问, 请假
- 祈 qíimplore; pray; pleaseUseful words: 祈祷, 祈求
Common words for these 2 "please" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 请 (qǐng) — so "please" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "please".
祈 qí — implore; pray; please
人们点起蜡烛，为亲人祈福。Rén men diǎn qǐ là zhú, wèi qīn rén qí fú.People light candles to pray for blessings for their loved ones.
Common words: 祈祷 (qí dǎo)、祈求 (qí qiú)、祈望 (qí wàng)
All 2 characters
Open 请、祈 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.