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请求 (qǐng qiú) — (verb) to request, to ask; (noun) request

Definition

请求 (qǐngqiú) is a polite 'to request / request' — more formal than 请, and softer/less forceful than 要求 ('to demand, requirement'). Use it when asking for something with respect.

verb
to requestto ask
noun
request
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 请求。
    Tā xiàng wǒ qǐng qiú bāng zhù.
    He asked me for help.
  • 请求。
    Nǐ de qǐng qiú bèi pī zhǔn le.
    Your request was approved.
  • 请求。
    Wǒ qǐng qiú nǐ gěi wǒ men yì diǎn shí jiān.
    I ask you to give us some time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

请qǐngask
求qiúseek

请 and 求 both mean to ask for, together naming 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.

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 →

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 →
Appears in
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