Politeness
How to say “please” in Chinese
“请” (qǐng) is the word for please, and it goes before the verb: “请坐” (please sit), “请进” (please come in). To ask a question politely, start with “请问” (qǐngwèn, may I ask).
In Chinese
请
qǐng
Please
Other ways to say “please”
-
请问
qǐngwèn
May I ask...
The polite start of a question to a stranger.
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麻烦你
máfan nǐ
Could I trouble you...
Asking a small favour politely.
-
请坐
qǐng zuò
Please sit down
Invite a guest.
-
请进
qǐng jìn
Please come in
Invite someone in.
Example sentences
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请问，火车站怎么走？
qǐngwèn, huǒchēzhàn zěnme zǒu?
Excuse me, how do I get to the train station?
-
请给我一杯水。
qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ.
Please give me a glass of water.
-
麻烦你帮我拍张照片，好吗？
máfan nǐ bāng wǒ pāi zhāng zhàopiàn, hǎo ma?
Could you take a photo for me, please?
Good to know
- “请” goes before the verb, unlike English “please” which can go at the end.
- Chinese speakers often use “麻烦你” (could I trouble you) for a favour instead of “请”.
Questions about “please” in Chinese
How do you say “please” in Chinese?
“please” in Chinese is “请” (Please). It is written in pinyin as qǐng. You can also say “请问”, “麻烦你”, “请坐”.
How do you pronounce “请” in Chinese?
“请” is pronounced qǐng. Tap the speaker on this page to hear it.
What are other ways to say “please” in Chinese?
“请问” (May I ask...): the polite start of a question to a stranger. “麻烦你” (Could I trouble you...): asking a small favour politely. “请坐” (Please sit down): invite a guest. “请进” (Please come in): invite someone in.
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