Chinese Elementary: 'Ask Someone to Do' and 'Want Someone to Do' with 请 and 想
Learn to use 请 (qǐng) and 想 (xiǎng) with a person and a verb to say 'ask someone to do' and 'want someone to do' in Mandarin.
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In Mandarin, to say that you ask or want someone to do something, you often put a person after the verb 请 (qǐng) or 想 (xiǎng), then add another verb. This is different from a simple verb like 等 (děng, 'wait') because you add an object: the person you are asking or wanting. For example, 她请我等 (tā qǐng wǒ děng) means 'She asked me to wait.' The structure is: subject + 请/想 + person + action verb. This lesson teaches you to use this pattern accurately in everyday situations. You will learn five useful phrases, see how the pattern works, and practice making your own sentences.
By the end, you can…
- use 请 + person + verb to ask someone to do something.
- use 想 + person + verb to say I want someone to do something.
- tell the difference between a simple verb and a verb with a person object.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
她请我等。
She asked me to wait.
tā qǐng wǒ děng
Use 请 (qǐng) to make a polite request. The person comes after 请, then the action verb.
我想你帮我。
I want you to help me.
wǒ xiǎng nǐ bāng wǒ
想 (xiǎng) expresses a wish or desire. Here the person 你 (nǐ) comes after 想, then the verb phrase 帮我 (bāng wǒ).
老师请我们回答问题。
The teacher asked us to answer the question.
lǎoshī qǐng wǒmen huídá wèntí
With a group, use 我们 (wǒmen, 'us'). 请 (qǐng) is common for teachers, hosts, or anyone making a polite request. 问题 (wèntí) here means 'question' (singular).
他想妈妈休息。
He wants Mom to rest.
tā xiǎng māma xiūxi
想 (xiǎng) can express a wish for someone else to do something. The person 妈妈 (māma) comes after 想.
请你坐。
Please sit.
qǐng nǐ zuò
This is a fixed polite expression. 请 (qǐng) + person + verb is very common for invitations and requests.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern is: Subject + 请/想 + Person + Verb (+ Object). For example, 她请我等 (tā qǐng wǒ děng) = 'She asked me to wait.' 我请你喝茶 (wǒ qǐng nǐ hē chá) = 'I invite you to drink tea.' 我想他来 (wǒ xiǎng tā lái) = 'I want him to come.' Notice that the person comes right after 请 or 想, then the action. This is different from a simple sentence like 我等 (wǒ děng, 'I wait') because you add a person object. Also, 请 (qǐng) often means 'invite' or 'ask politely,' while 想 (xiǎng) means 'want' or 'would like.'
When to use it
Use 请 (qǐng) when you are making a polite request or inviting someone. For example, 请进 (qǐng jìn, 'Please come in') or 请坐 (qǐng zuò, 'Please sit'). Use 想 (xiǎng) when you express a desire or wish for someone to do something. For example, 我想你早点睡觉 (wǒ xiǎng nǐ zǎodiǎn shuìjiào, 'I want you to go to bed earlier'). In negative sentences, use 不想 (bù xiǎng) before the person: 我不想他走 (wǒ bù xiǎng tā zǒu, 'I don't want him to leave'). For polite requests, 请 is more formal than 想.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
小王，请你帮我。
Xiao Wang, please help me.Xiǎo Wáng, qǐng nǐ bāng wǒ好的，你想我做什么？
Okay, what do you want me to do?hǎo de, nǐ xiǎng wǒ zuò shénme我想你等我十分钟。
I want you to wait for me for ten minutes.wǒ xiǎng nǐ děng wǒ shí fēnzhōng没问题，我等你。
No problem, I'll wait for you.méi wèntí, wǒ děng nǐA little context goes a long way
In Mandarin, 请 (qǐng) is a polite word that often means 'invite' or 'please.' It is very common in service settings and formal requests. 想 (xiǎng) is more about personal desire and is used with friends, family, or people of similar status. When speaking to someone older or in a formal situation, 请 is safer for requests. Also, Chinese does not change verb forms for tense or person, so the same pattern works for past, present, and future as long as you add time words if needed.
One thing to watch for
Putting the person after the action verb, as in English: *我请等 你 (wǒ qǐng děng nǐ).
Try this instead: In Chinese, the person comes right after 请 or 想, before the action verb. Say 我请你等 (wǒ qǐng nǐ děng) = 'I ask you to wait.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'She asked me to wait' in Chinese?
Show a sample answer
她请我等。
This uses 请 + person 我 + verb 等. It correctly places the person after 请 and before the action. You could also say 她让我等 (tā ràng wǒ děng) with a slightly different meaning ('let/make'), but 请 is the polite 'ask' from this lesson.
2Translate into Chinese: 'I want you to help me.'
Show a sample answer
我想你帮我。
This uses 想 + person 你 + verb phrase 帮我. It correctly expresses a desire for someone else to do something. Another valid version is 我希望你帮我 (wǒ xīwàng nǐ bāng wǒ), which is more formal.
3Make a polite request: 'Please sit.'
Show a sample answer
请你坐。
This is a fixed polite expression using 请 + person 你 + verb 坐. You can also say 请坐 (qǐng zuò) without 你, which is equally polite and very common.
Remember: 请 (qǐng) and 想 (xiǎng) come before the person, then the action verb. Use 请 for polite requests and 想 for personal wishes. Practice with 请你坐 and 我想你帮我 to master this pattern.
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