Keywords: 恳求, kěnqiú, kenqiu, how to say plead in Chinese, beg in Chinese, Chinese verb for implore, kěnqiú meaning, Chinese formal request, 恳求 vs 请求, 哀求, 乞求, plead, implore, beseech
Summary: Learn how to use 恳求 (kěnqiú), a powerful Chinese verb meaning to implore, plead, or beg. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage with over 10 example sentences. Understand the deep sincerity and emotional weight behind this word, and learn why it's different from a simple request (请求 qǐngqiú). This guide is essential for learners who want to express serious, heartfelt requests in Chinese.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): kěnqiú
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 5
Concise Definition: To earnestly and sincerely plead, implore, or beg for something.
In a Nutshell: 恳求 (kěnqiú) is not your everyday “please”. It's a heavy, emotional word used in serious situations where you are desperately and sincerely pleading with someone. Think of it as “begging from the heart.” It implies that the matter is of great importance and that the speaker is in a vulnerable position, humbling themselves to make the request.
Character Breakdown
恳 (kěn): This character is composed of 豸 (an ancient radical often related to appearance or form) and, most importantly, 心 (xīn), the character for “heart”. The 心 radical tells you everything you need to know: this character is about sincerity, earnestness, and feelings that come from the heart.
求 (qiú): This character means “to seek,” “to request,” or “to beg.” Its ancient form depicted a person in a fur coat, possibly as part of a ritual to pray for something. It signifies the act of asking for something one lacks.
Combined Meaning: When you put them together, 恳求 (kěnqiú) literally means “to sincerely seek” or “to request from the heart.” The character 恳 adds a profound layer of earnestness and sincerity to the act of 求, transforming a simple request into a heartfelt plea.
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, where maintaining social harmony and not imposing on others is highly valued, making a direct and demanding request can sometimes be seen as disruptive. Using a word like 恳求 (kěnqiú) is a significant social act. It signals that the situation is so critical that the speaker is willing to set aside their own social standing or “face” (面子, miànzi) to make a desperate appeal.
Comparison to Western Culture: In English, the word “beg” often has a strong connotation of losing all dignity, like a beggar on the street. While 恳求 (kěnqiú) can be used in such contexts, it has a broader and often more formal range. It can describe a lawyer passionately “pleading” a case or a diplomat “imploring” another nation for peace. In these cases, it's less about a loss of personal dignity and more about conveying the extreme gravity and sincerity of the situation. The core feeling is one of heartfelt, humble, and urgent appeal.
Practical Usage in Modern China
恳求 (kěnqiú) is a formal, literary, and emotionally charged word. You will not hear it used for everyday favors.
High-Stakes Personal Situations: This is its most common use in spoken language. It is used when pleading for forgiveness, asking for a life-altering second chance, or begging a doctor to save a loved one. The stakes are always high.
He knelt down and begged his girlfriend not to leave him.
Formal & Written Contexts: In writing, 恳求 can be used in formal letters or official statements to make a very serious request to a person or organization in a position of power.
“We earnestly implore the committee to reconsider its decision.”
Literature and Media: You will frequently encounter 恳求 in novels, movies, and TV dramas to escalate the emotional tension of a scene. It's a go-to word for characters at their breaking point.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
他跪下来恳求妻子的原谅。
Pinyin: Tā guì xiàlái kěnqiú qīzi de yuánliàng.
English: He knelt down to plead for his wife's forgiveness.
Analysis: This is a classic, dramatic use of 恳求. The physical act of kneeling (跪) emphasizes the desperation and sincerity of the plea.
Example 2:
病人的家属恳求医生一定要救救他。
Pinyin: Bìngrén de jiāshǔ kěnqiú yīshēng yīdìng yào jiùjiu tā.
English: The patient's family members implored the doctor to please save him.
Analysis: This sentence highlights a life-or-death situation, a perfect context for the emotional weight of 恳求.
Example 3:
我恳求你再给我一次机会，我保证不会再犯同样的错误了。
Pinyin: Wǒ kěnqiú nǐ zài gěi wǒ yīcì jīhuì, wǒ bǎozhèng bù huì zàifàn tóngyàng de cuòwù le.
English: I'm begging you to give me one more chance, I promise I won't make the same mistake again.
Analysis: A very personal and direct plea. The speaker is humbling themselves and making a heartfelt promise.
Example 4:
律师恳求法官从轻判决。
Pinyin: Lǜshī kěnqiú fǎguān cóngqīng pànjué.
English: The lawyer pleaded with the judge for a lenient sentence.
Analysis: This shows 恳求 used in a formal, professional context (the courtroom) where the stakes are extremely high.
English: The children pleaded with their parents to let them play a little longer.
Analysis: While 恳求 is generally serious, it can sometimes be used with a touch of hyperbole to describe children's desperate wheedling, though a word like 央求 (yāngqiú) might be more common.
Example 10:
这位艺术家在他的作品中表达了对和平的恳求。
Pinyin: Zhè wèi yìshùjiā zài tā de zuòpǐn zhōng biǎodále duì hépíng de kěnqiú.
English: This artist expressed a plea for peace in his work.
Analysis: A more abstract and literary usage, showing a deep, heartfelt desire for something intangible like peace.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
Common Mistake: Using it for simple requests.
Incorrect: 服务员，我恳求你给我一杯水。(Fúwùyuán, wǒ kěnqiú nǐ gěi wǒ yībēi shuǐ.) - Waiter, I beg you to give me a glass of water.
Why it's wrong: This is far too dramatic and intense for a simple request in a restaurant. It would sound very strange, if not alarming.
Correct: 服务员，请给我一杯水。(Fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi wǒ yībēi shuǐ.) - Waiter, please give me a glass of water.
`恳求 (kěnqiú)` vs. `请求 (qǐngqiú)`: This is a crucial distinction for learners.
请求 (qǐngqiú): A formal “request.” It is polite and serious but lacks the emotional desperation of 恳求. It's a request made between equals or from a subordinate to a superior, based on reason and procedure.
Example: 我请求公司批准我的休假申请。(Wǒ qǐngqiú gōngsī pīzhǔn wǒ de xiūjià shēnqǐng.) - I request that the company approve my vacation application. (A standard, formal procedure).
恳求 (kěnqiú): A desperate “plea.” It is driven by emotion and vulnerability. It implies a significant power imbalance or a critical, high-stakes situation.
Example: 我恳求您批准我的休假申请，因为我的家人病重。(Wǒ kěnqiú nín pīzhǔn wǒ de xiūjià shēnqǐng, yīnwèi wǒ de jiārén bìngzhòng.) - I implore you to approve my vacation application because my family member is gravely ill. (The reason adds emotional urgency).
Related Terms and Concepts
请求 (qǐngqiú) - A formal request. Much less emotional and desperate than 恳求.
要求 (yāoqiú) - To demand; to require. This implies the speaker has authority and is in a position of power, the opposite of 恳求.
哀求 (āiqiú) - To implore piteously. This is even more desperate and pathetic than 恳求, often involving crying and a complete loss of composure.
乞求 (qǐqiú) - To beg for alms or mercy. This word has the strongest connotation of low social status and total helplessness, like a beggar asking for money.
拜托 (bàituō) - “Please, I'm counting on you.” A common, more colloquial way to sincerely ask for a favor and entrust someone with a task. Much less formal than 恳求.
央求 (yāngqiú) - To plead persistently, to wheedle. Often used to describe a child pestering a parent for something. It's more about persistence than desperation.
请 (qǐng) - “Please.” The most basic, neutral, and versatile word for making a polite request.
祈祷 (qídǎo) - To pray. The “request” is directed at a god or a higher power, not a person.