请愿 (qǐng yuàn) — to present a petition, to petition | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal verb meaning to submit a petition to an authority (government, organization) demanding action or change. Often used in political or public contexts as a set term (请愿书, 请愿活动), not for casual requests.

verb

to present a petitionto petition

Examples

请愿，。
Gōng rén men xiàng zhèng fǔ qǐng yuàn, yāo qiú gǎi shàn gōng zuò tiáo jiàn.
The workers petitioned the government, demanding improved working conditions.
，。
Tā men qǐng le yí cì yuàn, dàn méi yǒu rén lǐ tā men.
They petitioned once, but no one responded to them.
请愿。
Zhè cì qǐng yuàn huó dòng dé dào le hěn duō rén de zhī chí.
This petition campaign received support from many people.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

请qǐngrequest

愿yuànpetition

请 means to request, and 愿 means a petition, so to present a request.

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.

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.

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

原心愿

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

原

原yuán愿yuàn

Same sound today

愿 places 心 (heart) below 原, which supplies the sound yuán; the 心 part marks the sense of heart or feeling.

Appears in

Government & Politics Rights & Citizenship

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