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Which Mandarin word means 'please' at the start of a request, like 'Please speak slowly'?

Qǐng (请) means please.

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  1. qǐng (请) ✔
  2. hǎo (好)
  3. duì (对)

Why: Qǐng goes in front of the verb: qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn, please speak slowly. Hǎo means good or OK and duì means right or correct.

Huh, didn't know that: Qǐng also means to invite or to treat, so 'wǒ qǐng nǐ' means 'my treat' at a meal.

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In Chinese class the magic word is qǐng. Say it and doors open, menus appear, and the teacher smiles.
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References

Answer: qǐng (请). Qǐng goes in front of the verb: qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn, please speak slowly. Hǎo means good or OK and duì means right or correct.

  1. MDBG Chinese Dictionary (CC-CEDICT): 请 www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdrst=0&wdqb=%E8%AF%B7
    to ask / to invite / please (do sth) / to treat (to a meal etc)
    Checked 2026-10-12.
  2. Peace Corps China, Chinese Basic Lessons for Invitees (Mandarin) files.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/audio/languagelessons/thepeoplesrepublicofchina/CN_Mandarin_Language_Lessons.pdf
    Please speak slowly.
    Checked 2026-10-12.

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