求

qiú
#312 most
frequent character
request, beg, entreat, beseech
verb

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

求 first drew a centipede or millipede and meant a myriapod. The sense 'to seek' was borrowed only for the sound, not from the picture. From 'seek' came 'to request'.

Drawn as: centipede or millipede

求 as a component in other characters

sound5 characters
球救裘俅逑
picture1 character
赇

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Example Sentences

我想求一个帮忙。
wǒxiǎng qiú yígè bāngmáng 。
I want to request a favor.
他向老师求指导。
tā xiàng lǎoshī qiú zhǐdǎo 。
He seeks guidance from the teacher.
请不要求太多。
qǐng bù yāoqiú tàiduō 。
Please do not beg too much.

Words with similar meanings

请求qǐngqiú
request
More formal than '求', often used in official contexts.
恳求kěnqiú
entreat
'恳求' carries a sense of earnestness and desperation, more intense than '求'.
乞求qǐqiú
beg
'乞求' emphasizes a more desperate or pleading aspect compared to '求'.

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