请安 (qǐng ān) — to pay respects (with a traditional gesture of obeisance or greeting)

Definition

A formal/archaic verb meaning to pay one's respects to an elder, often with a traditional gesture (bow, bent knee). Used for ceremonial greetings to superiors, not casual hellos.

verb
to pay respects (with a traditional gesture of obeisance or greeting)

Examples

  • 请安。
    Tā měi tiān zǎo chén dōu yào qù gěi zǔ mǔ qǐng ān.
    He goes to pay respects to his grandmother every morning.
  • ，。
    Zài gǔ dài, wǎn bèi jiàn dào zhǎng bèi yào qǐng yí gè ān.
    In ancient times, juniors had to perform a bow of respect when meeting elders.
  • ，。
    Tā xué zhe gǔ rén de yàng zi, gěi kè rén qǐng le gè ān.
    She imitated the ancients and made a bow of respect to the guest.

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/wish
安ānpeace/health

请 (request/wish) and 安 (peace/health) form a greeting asking after well-being.

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mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
女
女nǚ安ān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 安, 宀 sits above a seated 女 on a cushion; 宀 is the meaning part, 女 is the sound part, and the character originally meant sitting at ease.

Open 安 →

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