敬请

• Pinyin: jìng qǐng
• Hanzi breakdown: 敬 = reverence; 请 = 讠(speech) + 青 (clear, phonetic) — a respectful verbal request

Meaning

Respectfully invite; kindly request (formal honorific).

A highly formal honorific verb phrase used in invitations, announcements, and official correspondence to respectfully ask the recipient to do something. Common formulas include 敬请光临 (kindly come/attend), 敬请期待 (please look forward to it), and 敬请谅解 (please kindly understand). Never used in casual speech.

Examples

1. 本次学术研讨会敬请各位专家学者踊跃参加。 All experts and scholars are respectfully invited to actively participate in this academic seminar.
2. 活动将于本周六举办，敬请光临，欢迎莅临指导。 The event will be held this Saturday — you are cordially invited to attend and offer your guidance.
3. 因场地限制，座位有限，敬请提前预约，以免向隅。 Due to venue limitations, seating is restricted; please kindly reserve in advance to avoid disappointment.

Usage Guide

Context: invitations, official correspondence, announcements

Tone: respectful and ceremonious

Do Say

• 敬请各位来宾出席本次颁奖典礼。(All guests are respectfully invited to attend the awards ceremony.)
• 新品发布会即将举行，敬请期待。(The new product launch is coming soon — please look forward to it.)

Don't Say

• 我敬请你帮我搬一下椅子。(敬请 is for formal written or ceremonial contexts — use 麻烦你 or 请帮我 in everyday requests)

Origin & History

敬 (respectfully) + 请 (to invite, to request). A formal honorific compound used in written invitations and announcements. Part of the register of 敬语 (honorific language) in Chinese formal writing.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal