请
please + do something: a polite request
Structure
请 + 动词 (+ 宾语)
What it means
请 + verb is a polite request: “please (do something)”.
How it is built
请 + verb (+ object): 请坐 (please sit), 请看第九页 (please look at page 9). To ask one person, add the name and 你: 大卫,请你读。 (David, please read.)
When to use it
Use it to invite or ask politely: 请进!请坐。 (Come in, please! Have a seat.) No subject is needed. A bare verb such as 坐! sounds more like an order.
Watch out
请 always goes before the verb, never at the end like English “please”: ✗ 坐请 ✓ 请坐.
Examples
请进!请坐。
Come in, please! Have a seat.
请看第九页。
Please look at page 9.
大卫,请你读课文。
David, please read the text.
Learn this in 启蒙 · Lesson 6: 上课了 (Classroom Chinese)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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