回请 (huí qǐng) — to return hospitality by hosting a meal or event in response to being treated

Definition

回请 is a separable verb meaning to host a return meal/event after being treated — a reciprocal, politeness-driven response. Pairs with 请 (invite/host) but emphasizes you are reciprocating, not initiating.

verb
to return hospitality by hosting a meal or event in response to being treated

Examples

  • ，回请。
    Shàng cì tā qǐng wǒ chī fàn, zhè cì wǒ dǎ suàn huí qǐng tā.
    Last time he treated me to a meal; this time I plan to return the hospitality.
  • 回请。
    Wǒ men yuē hǎo zhè zhōu mò huí qǐng tā men yì jiā.
    We've arranged to host them and their family this weekend as a return.
  • ，回请。
    Wèi le biǎo shì gǎn xiè, gōng sī jué dìng huí qǐng suǒ yǒu hé zuò fāng.
    To express gratitude, the company decided to hold a return banquet for all partners.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

回huíin return
请qǐnginvite

回 means in return, and 请 means invite, so the word describes inviting someone back after being treated.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

回 comes from a drawing of a spiral, showing something turning around.

Open 回 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 請; 请 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánsay
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng請qǐng
Same sound today

In the traditional form 請, 言 shows it relates to speaking, and 青 gives the sound; the simplified 请 is a later shorter form.

Open 请 →

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