How to write 请 (qǐng, “to ask”)

请 (qǐng), an HSK 1 character, means “to ask”, “to invite” and “please”. The traditional form is 請, 15 strokes instead of 10. On its own it is an HSK 1 word; it also forms 请问 (“Excuse me, may I ask...?”), 请客 (“to give a dinner party”) and 请假 (“to request leave of absence”). Japanese keeps the traditional 請, read sei (“solicit”).

Pinyin: qǐng
Strokes: 10
HSK: 1
Radical: 讠 (“speech”)
Traditional: 請

Stroke by stroke

As a left-right character it splits into 讠 (“speech”, the radical), strokes 1–2; 青 (“youth”), strokes 3–10, written the left part first.

top leftdown and right
leftrightwards → downwards → up and right
toprightwards
toprightwards
topdown and right → downwards
centerrightwards
centerdownwards
centerrightwards → downwards
centerrightwards
bottomrightwards

Names of the strokes

Traditional form

Simplified: 请 · 10 strokes
Traditional: 請 · 15 strokes · see its strokes

Simplified vs traditional

Trace it

Follow the numbers. Tracing help

Pinyin and meaning

Pinyin	Meanings	Traditional	In words
qǐng third tone	to ask; to invite; please (do sth); to treat (to a meal etc); to request	請	请问请客请假申请

HSK 2025 syllabus: level 1
2021 standard: level 1
HSK 2.0: in a level 1 word
Words with it: 66 in CC-CEDICT

Words with 请

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
请請	qǐng	to ask; to invite HSK 1
请问請問	qǐngwèn	Excuse me, may I ask...? HSK 1
请客請客	qǐngkè	to give a dinner party; to entertain guests HSK 3
请假請假	qǐngjià	to request leave of absence HSK 3
申请申請	shēnqǐng	to apply for sth; application form HSK 4
邀请邀請	yāoqǐng	to invite; invitation HSK 4
请教請教	qǐngjiào	to ask for guidance; to consult HSK 5
请求請求	qǐngqiú	to request; to ask HSK 5
聘请聘請	pìnqǐng	to engage; to hire (a lawyer etc) HSK 5
请示請示	qǐngshì	to ask for instructions HSK 7-9

HSK words first (CC-CEDICT).

Practice sheet

Print at 100%. Several characters: worksheet maker.

Keep going

HSK 1, in list order: