Polite requests in Mandarin Chinese

How to Politely Ask Someone to Do Something in Chinese

In Practical Chinese Phrases by Angel Huang

Need to ask for help, but don’t want to sound too “pushy”?

In this video you’ll learn 4 common ways of making polite requests in Chinese.

BONUS: Download MP3 + PDF to Review This Lesson Anytime

Word-For-Word Breakdown of the Polite Phrases From The Video

 我只是想善意地提醒你一下 。wǒ zhǐ shì xiǎng shàn yì de tí xǐng nǐ yī xià. I just wanted to kindly remind you.

  • 我 wǒ: I
  • 只是 zhǐ shì: only / just
  • 想 xiǎng: to want 
  • 善意地  shàn yì de: kindly
  • 提醒  tí xǐng: to remind
  • 你  nǐ: you
  • 一下  yī xià: a bit

麻烦你帮我签收一下快递 。má fán nǐ bāng wǒ qiān shōu yī xià kuài dì. I'm sorry to bother you to help me get my express delivery.

  • 麻烦 má fán: to trouble or bother sb
  • 你 nǐ: you
  • 帮 bāng: to help 
  • 我 wǒ: me
  • 签收 qiān shōu: to sign for the acceptance of sth (e.g. a delivery etc)
  • 一下 yī xià: a bit
  • 快递 kuài dì: express delivery

BONUS: Download MP3 + PDF to Review This Lesson Anytime

你介意帮我倒杯咖啡吗? nǐ jiè yì bāng wǒ dào bēi kā fēi ma? Would you mind helping me get a cup of coffee?

  • 你 nǐ: you
  • 介意 jiè yì: to mind
  • 帮 bāng: to help 
  • 我 wǒ: me
  • 倒 dào:  to pour
  • 杯 bēi: cup
  • 咖啡  kā fēi: coffee
  • 吗 ma: question particle

如果您能帮我遛狗那就完美了! rú guǒ nín néng bāng wǒ liù gǒu ，nà jiù wán měi le ！ It would be perfect if you could help walk my dog!

  • 如果 rú guǒ: if
  • 您 nín: you (courteous, as opposed to informal 你[nǐ])
  • 能 néng: can 
  • 帮 bāng: to help
  • 我 wǒ:  me
  • 遛狗 liù gǒu: to walk a dog
  • 那 nà: that
  • 就 jiù: just (emphasis)
  • 完美 wán měi: perfect
  • 了 le: particle

Enjoyed this lesson?

Subscribe to our free newsletter to receive regular tips and updates to help you learn Mandarin.  When you sign up you'll get instant access to a PDF Transcript & MP3  Audio file for this lesson. 

We take your privacy seriously. No spam. See privacy policy here.

Download PDF
Download MP3

On a computer: Right click on the button and select "Save as" or "Download"

On a phone: Tap and hold your finger on the button for a second (and you'll see the download option in the menu that pops up)

You might also find these posts interesting:

5 Simple Expressions That Make You Sound More Polite In Chinese

What To Say When You Don’t Understand Someone In Mandarin Chinese

How to Say Thank You in Chinese

6 Ways to Get People to Take You Seriously in Mandarin Chinese