请坐

• Pinyin: qǐng zuò
• Hanzi breakdown: 请 = 讠(speech) + 青 (phonetic); 坐 = two people (人人) sitting on the ground (土)

Meaning

Please sit down; please have a seat. A polite phrase inviting someone to sit.

A common polite expression used when welcoming guests, at meetings, in classrooms, or any setting where you want someone to take a seat. Often paired with 请进 when receiving visitors at home or in an office.

Examples

1. 请坐，不要站着。 Please sit down, don't stand.
2. 老师说请大家坐下。 The teacher said please everyone sit down.
3. 来，请坐吧。 Come, please have a seat.

Usage Guide

Context: hospitality, social

Tone: welcoming

Do Say

• 请坐，喝点茶吧。(Please sit down, have some tea.)
• 这里有位子，请坐。(There's a seat here, please sit down.)

Don't Say

• 坐下！(Too blunt as a command — use 请坐 or 坐吧 to sound polite)

Origin & History

A combination of 请 (please) and 坐 (to sit), forming a polite invitation to be seated.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal