请 (causative)
HSK 3- Causative
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Use `请` to politely and formally invite or ask someone to do something.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
Unlike 请 at the start of a sentence meaning "please (go ahead)" or "be my guest," the structure 请 + person + verb is used to ask or invite someone to do a specific action. It makes a request more formal and polite, equivalent to "asking someone to do something" or "inviting someone to do something" in English. The speaker is the one making the request, while the person being 请-ed is the one who carries out the action.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 我请你吃饭。繁: 我請你吃飯。Wǒ qǐng nǐ chīfàn.
I invite you to have a meal.
- 他请朋友帮忙。繁: 他請朋友幫忙。Tā qǐng péngyou bāngmáng.
He asked his friends for help.
- 老师请我回答问题。繁: 老師請我回答問題。Lǎoshī qǐng wǒ huídá wèntí.
The teacher asked me to answer the question.
- 经理请他明天开会。繁: 經理請他明天開會。Jīnglǐ qǐng tā míngtiān kāihuì.
The manager asked him to attend a meeting tomorrow.
- 妈妈请我去买菜。繁: 媽媽請我去買菜。Māma qǐng wǒ qù mǎi cài.
Mom asked me to go buy groceries.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我请吃饭你。Correct:我请你吃饭。
The person being invited or asked (`你`) must stand immediately after `请` and before the verb.
- Wrong:我叫老师帮我。Correct:我请老师帮我。
When asking an older person or someone of higher status, use `请` to show respect; do not use `叫`.