请缨 (qǐng yīng) — to volunteer for a difficult mission or assignment (formal/literary)

Definition

A formal, literary verb meaning to volunteer for a difficult or dangerous mission. Unlike everyday 自告奋勇, it is almost always used in written or historical contexts (e.g., 请缨报国).

verb
to volunteer for a difficult mission or assignment (formal/literary)

Examples

  • 请缨。
    Tā zhǔ dòng qǐng yīng cān jiā qián xiàn jiù yuán gōng zuò.
    He volunteered to join the frontline rescue mission.
  • ，请缨。
    Zài zhè cì huó dòng zhōng, tā dì yī gè qǐng yīng dān rèn zhǔ chí rén.
    In this event, she was the first to volunteer as the host.
  • 缨，。
    Gǔ yǒu qǐng yīng bào guó, jīn yǒu qīng nián xiàn shēn kē yán.
    In ancient times, people volunteered to serve the country; today, young people devote themselves to scientific research.

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
缨yīngtassel

请 means to ask or request, and 缨 refers to a tassel; together they evoke volunteering for a task.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 纓; 缨 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
嬰
嬰yīng纓yīng
Same sound today

The traditional form 纓 pairs 糸 (silk) with 嬰 for the sound; the simplified 缨 is a later shorthand.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.