恳请 (kěn qǐng) — to earnestly request, to beg (formal) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning 'to earnestly request,' used in official letters, petitions, or formal speeches. It is more formal and literary than 请求 or 申请, and is typically used in official contexts.

verb

to earnestly requestto beg (formal)

Examples

恳请。
Wǒ kěn qǐng nín lái cān jiā wǒ men de huì yì.
I earnestly request that you attend our meeting.
恳请。
Xué shēng kěn qǐng xué xiào yán cháng jié zhǐ rì qī.
The students earnestly request the school to extend the deadline.
恳请。
Wǒ men kěn qǐng gè wèi zhuān jiā tí chū bǎo guì yì jiàn.
We earnestly request that the experts provide valuable feedback.

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.

恳kěnearnest

请qǐngrequest

恳请 combines 恳 meaning earnest and 请 meaning request to ask earnestly.

Characters in this word

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 懇; 恳 is its simplified writing.

貇心懇

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

貇

貇kěn懇kěn

Same sound today

The traditional form 懇 pairs 貇, which gives the pronunciation, with 心 (heart); the simplified 恳 is a shorthand.

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.

言青請

Meaning part形符xíngfú

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.

Appears in

Communication & Speech

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