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请客 (qǐng kè) — to treat someone to a meal; to be the host (picking up the bill)

Definition

请客 specifically means treating someone to a meal or drinks — the host pays. Use 招待 for hosting guests in general, and 做客 for being the guest (the opposite role).

verb
to treat someone to a mealto be the host (picking up the bill)

Examples

  • 请客，。
    Jīn tiān wǒ qǐng kè, dà jiā suí biàn diǎn.
    The meal is on me today — order whatever you like.
  • ，。
    Tā shàng cì qǐng wǒ de kè, zhè cì wǒ qǐng tā.
    He treated me last time; this time I'm treating him.
  • ，请客。
    Nǐ men bié zhēng le, zhè cì wǒ lái qǐng kè.
    Stop arguing — let me be the host this time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

请qǐnginvite
客kèguest

请 means to invite and 客 means guest, so the word means to host a meal.

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 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 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè客kè
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 客, 宀 is a roof and 各 gives the sound; the character meant a guest.

Open 客 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3HSK 2.0 Level 4Dining & Restaurants

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