讨

• Pinyin: tǎo
• Hanzi breakdown: 讨 = 讠(speech) + 寸 (inch) — speaking to demand

Meaning

To ask for; to demand; to beg. Also: to invite or provoke (trouble).

Versatile verb meaning to request, demand, or seek. Can be neutral (asking for payment) or negative (begging, provoking). Often appears in compounds like 讨厌, 讨好, 讨论. The tone depends heavily on context.

Examples

1. 他厚着脸皮去找老板讨加薪，结果居然成功了。 He had the nerve to go ask the boss for a raise — and surprisingly, he succeeded.
2. 你这样做不是自讨苦吃吗？ Aren't you just asking for trouble by doing this?
3. 小狗跑到餐桌旁讨吃的，眼巴巴地望着主人。 The puppy ran to the dining table begging for food, gazing eagerly at its owner.

Usage Guide

Context: requests, demands, everyday

Tone: varies

Do Say

• 去讨个说法。(Go and demand an explanation.)
• 别讨人嫌。(Don't make yourself annoying.)

Don't Say

• 在正式场合用'讨'代替'请求' (In formal contexts, use 请求 or 申请 instead of 讨 for requests)

Origin & History

Originally meant to attack or demand — evolved to include asking or seeking.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal