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求情 (qiú qíng) — to plead (for mercy/leniency); to intercede (on sb.'s behalf); to ask for a favor

Definition

A separable verb: 求 + 情, used when you beg someone (usually in power) to forgive, spare, or grant a favor. Collapses to 求情 in 帮我求个情; the split appears with measure words like 求过几次情.

verb
to plead (for mercy/leniency)to intercede (on sb.'s behalf)to ask for a favor

Examples

  • 求情，。
    Wǒ xiàng tā qiú qíng, xī wàng tā néng yuán liàng wǒ.
    I pleaded with him, hoping he could forgive me.
  • ，。
    Tā gēn wǒ qiú guò jǐ cì qíng, wǒ dōu méi dā ying.
    He interceded with me several times, but I didn't agree.
  • ，。
    Nǐ qù qiú gè qíng, shuō bú dìng tā huì tóng yì.
    Go and plead a favor — maybe he'll agree.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

求qiúask
情qíngsentiment

“求” means to ask and “情” refers to sentiment or plea; together they mean to plead for leniency.

Characters in this word

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

求 began as a drawing of a centipede.

Open 求 →

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng情qíng
Same sound today

情 shows 心 (heart) beside 青, which gives the sound. The heart part points to feelings and inner states.

Open 情 →
Appears in
Law & Justice

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