请教

• Pinyin: qǐng jiào
• Hanzi breakdown: 请 = 讠(speech) + 青 (green/young, phonetic), meaning to request; 教 = 孝 (filial piety) + 攵 (strike), meaning to teach

Meaning

To consult; to ask for advice; to seek guidance from someone knowledgeable.

A humble and polite way of asking for help or advice from someone you respect. More formal and deferential than simply 问 (ask). Implies respect for the other person's knowledge or experience. Very common in professional and academic settings. Often used as a polite opener before asking a question.

Examples

1. 这个问题我不太懂，想请教一下您。 I don't quite understand this issue — I'd like to consult you about it.
2. 有时间的话，我想向您请教几个问题。 If you have time, I'd like to ask you for advice on a few questions.
3. 他经常请教有经验的前辈。 He often seeks guidance from experienced seniors.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, academic, respectful inquiry

Tone: humble

Do Say

• 我想请教您一个问题。(I'd like to ask you for advice on a question.)
• 有不懂的地方要多向别人请教。(When you don't understand something, ask others for guidance.)

Don't Say

• 我想请教你今天几点了。(Don't use 请教 for simple factual questions like 'what time is it' — it's for seeking wisdom or guidance, not basic information.)

Origin & History

请 means to please or request; 教 means to teach. Together they literally mean 'please teach me' — a humble request for instruction from someone with more knowledge.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal