How to say please in Chinese
"Please" in Chinese is 请 (qǐng). 请 goes before a verb for invitations, offers and polite requests; Chinese does not tack "please" onto every request, and tone, 一下 or 吧 do much of that work.
Ways to say please
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 请 | qǐng | please | The default answer. |
| 拜托了 | bài tuō le | please, I'm begging you | Casual pleading with friends for a favor |
| 能不能 | néng bu néng | could you | Everyday polite requests, followed by the verb: 能不能帮我 |
| 麻烦你 | má fan nǐ | could I trouble you to | Asking someone to do something that takes their time or effort |
| 请问 | qǐng wèn | excuse me, may I ask | Before a question to a stranger, staff or someone senior |
| 请您 | qǐng nín | would you please | Formal requests to customers, elders and the public |
What people say back
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 请坐，喝杯茶吧。 | qǐng zuò, hē bēi chá ba. | Please sit down and have some tea. |
| 请问，这个多少钱？ | qǐng wèn, zhè ge duō shao qián? | Excuse me, how much is this? |
| 麻烦你帮我拍张照片，好吗？ | má fan nǐ bāng wǒ pāi zhāng zhào piàn, hǎo ma? | Would you mind taking a photo of me? |
| 请大家把手机关掉。 | qǐng dà jiā bǎ shǒu jī guān diào. | Please turn off your phones, everyone. |
| 拜托了，帮我这一次吧！ | bài tuō le, bāng wǒ zhè yī cì ba! | Please, just help me out this once! |
The characters in 请
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning here |
|---|---|---|
| 请 | qǐng | please; to invite |
Common mistakes
- There is no filler "please" for ordering: 我要一杯咖啡 said in a friendly tone, plus 谢谢, is perfectly polite. Adding 请 there sounds odd.
- 请问 is only for asking a question. To ask someone to do something, use 麻烦你 or 能不能.
- 请 also means "to invite, to treat": 我请你 means "it's my treat", not "I please you".
Related
- Thank you in Chinese: 谢谢
- Polite phrases in Chinese: 不客气
- Sorry in Chinese: 对不起
- Welcome in Chinese: 欢迎
- All phrases and words
Frequently asked questions
How do you say please in Chinese?
请 (qǐng). Other ways: 拜托了 (bài tuō le); 能不能 (néng bu néng); 麻烦你 (má fan nǐ).
How do you say please in Chinese?
请 (qǐng) goes before a verb: 请坐 (qǐng zuò), "please sit". For favors, 麻烦你 (má fan nǐ) is more natural.
How do you order politely in a Chinese restaurant?
Name what you want: 我要一杯咖啡 (wǒ yào yī bēi kā fēi), "I'd like a coffee". A friendly tone and 谢谢 make it polite without any word for please.
What does 我请你 mean?
我请你 (wǒ qǐng nǐ) means "my treat" or "I'm inviting you", usually about paying for a meal or drinks.
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