拜托

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bàituō: 拜托 - Please, I Beg You, Come On

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: 拜托, bàituō, baituō, please in Chinese, how to say please in Chinese, beg in Chinese, come on in Chinese, sarcastic please in Chinese, Chinese interjection, 拜托了, bàituō le, asking for a favor in Chinese, HSK 4 vocabulary
  • Summary: Discover the meaning of 拜托 (bàituō), a versatile and powerful Chinese word that goes far beyond a simple “please”. Learn how bàituō is used to sincerely ask for a significant favor, entrusting someone with an important task. This guide will also teach you how its meaning can flip to a sarcastic “come on!” or “give me a break!” based on tone and context, making it a crucial term for understanding the nuances of modern spoken Chinese.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): bàituō
  • Part of Speech: Verb, Interjection
  • HSK Level: HSK 4
  • Concise Definition: To earnestly request a favor from someone or to express exasperation.
  • In a Nutshell: 拜托 (bàituō) is not your everyday “please” (that would be 请 (qǐng)). Think of bàituō as a “super-please” you use when asking for a real favor that might be an inconvenience. It implies you are respectfully entrusting someone with a task and placing your faith in them. Because it's so earnest, it can also be used sarcastically to mean “Oh, please!” or “Come on!” when you hear something ridiculous.

Character Breakdown

  • 拜 (bài): This character means to pay respect, to greet formally, or to worship. Pictorially, it originally depicted two hands clasped together in a gesture of respect or prayer.
  • 托 (tuō): This character means to entrust, to rely on, or to support with one's palm. The hand radical (手) on the left side hints at the action of holding or passing something to someone.
  • When combined, 拜托 (bàituō) literally means “to respectfully entrust.” This perfectly captures the feeling of humbly asking someone to take on a responsibility for you, showing both your respect for them and your need for their help.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • Invoking a Social Favor (人情 rénqíng): In Chinese culture, asking for a favor is often more than a simple transaction; it's part of a complex web of social obligations known as 人情 (rénqíng). Using 拜托 (bàituō) is a way of formally acknowledging that you are imposing on someone and creating a social debt. You are not just asking, you are showing vulnerability and respect, thereby strengthening the relationship while also owing them a favor in return.
  • Contrast with Western “Please”: In English, “please” is a standard politeness marker used for almost any request, from “Please pass the salt” to “Please help me move.” In Chinese, 请 (qǐng) fills the role of the standard polite word. 拜托 (bàituō) is reserved for situations with higher stakes. Using it for a trivial matter would sound overly dramatic, as if you were begging someone to pass you the salt. This distinction highlights a cultural difference: bàituō acknowledges the weight of the request itself, not just the politeness of the speaker.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Sincere and Earnest Requests: This is the primary use. It's said when you ask a friend to water your plants while you're on vacation, ask a colleague for significant help on a project, or ask for an important introduction. It's often followed by 了 (le) to add a sense of finality and emphasis: 拜托了 (bàituō le).
    • Formality: It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but the weight of the request is always significant.
  • Sarcastic and Exasperated Interjection: In a completely different tone, 拜托 (bàituō) is used as an interjection to express disbelief or annoyance. It's the verbal equivalent of an eye-roll. If a friend tells you a story that's obviously untrue, you might say, “拜托，你觉得我会信吗？” (“Come on, do you think I'd believe that?”).
    • Tone is Key: The difference between a sincere plea and a sarcastic jab is conveyed almost entirely through tone of voice, body language, and context.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1: (Sincere request for a big favor)
    • 这次搬家我一个人真不行，拜托你来帮帮我吧。
    • Pinyin: Zhè cì bānjiā wǒ yīgè rén zhēn bùxíng, bàituō nǐ lái bāng bāng wǒ ba.
    • English: I really can't manage this move by myself, please, I'm asking you to come and help me.
    • Analysis: This is a classic use of bàituō. Moving is a big favor, and the speaker is acknowledging the imposition and earnestly asking for help.
  • Example 2: (Entrusting someone with a task)
    • 我要出差一个星期，我的猫就拜托你了。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ yào chūchāi yīgè xīngqī, wǒ de māo jiù bàituō nǐ le.
    • English: I'm going on a business trip for a week, so I'll have to entrust my cat to you.
    • Analysis: Here, bàituō shows trust. You're not just asking, you're placing a valued “thing” (your pet) in their care. The 了 (le) adds a sense of “it's settled, I'm counting on you.”
  • Example 3: (Sarcastic exasperation)
    • 拜托，现在都几点了？你才来！
    • Pinyin: Bàituō, xiànzài dōu jǐ diǎn le? Nǐ cái lái!
    • English: Oh, come on, what time is it now? You're only just arriving!
    • Analysis: The tone here would be annoyed and exasperated. It's not a request but a complaint, equivalent to “Seriously?!” or “Give me a break!”.
  • Example 4: (In a work context)
    • 这个报告非常紧急，今天下午务必完成，拜托大家了。
    • Pinyin: Zhège bàogào fēicháng jǐnjí, jīntiān xiàwǔ wùbì wánchéng, bàituō dàjiā le.
    • English: This report is extremely urgent and must be completed this afternoon. I'm counting on you all.
    • Analysis: A manager might use this to show the gravity of the task while also showing respect for the team's effort. It's both a command and a plea.
  • Example 5: (Pleading for understanding)
    • 拜托你再给我一次机会，我保证不会再犯了。
    • Pinyin: Bàituō nǐ zài gěi wǒ yīcì jīhuì, wǒ bǎozhèng bù huì zài fàn le.
    • English: I'm begging you to give me one more chance, I promise I won't make the same mistake again.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates a more desperate, pleading tone. The speaker is in a weak position and is truly begging.
  • Example 6: (Responding to a ridiculous claim)
    • A: 我每天只睡三个小时就够了。(Wǒ měitiān zhǐ shuì sān gè xiǎoshí jiù gòu le.) - I only need to sleep three hours a day.
    • B: 拜托，别吹牛了，对身体不好。( Bàituō, bié chuīniú le, duì shēntǐ bù hǎo.)
    • English: Oh, please, stop bragging. That's not good for your health.
    • Analysis: Speaker B uses bàituō to express disbelief and dismiss the claim as nonsense.
  • Example 7: (Asking for a connection/introduction)
    • 我知道您认识王经理，这件事能拜托您帮忙引荐一下吗？
    • Pinyin: Wǒ zhīdào nín rènshì Wáng jīnglǐ, zhè jiàn shì néng bàituō nín bāngmáng yǐnjiàn yīxià ma?
    • English: I know you know Manager Wang. Could I trouble you to help make an introduction regarding this matter?
    • Analysis: Asking for an introduction (引荐) is a significant favor that uses social capital. 拜托 is the perfect word to show you understand the weight of your request.
  • Example 8: (Politely refusing an offer by implying it's too much)
    • A: 我来付钱吧！ (Wǒ lái fùqián ba!) - Let me pay!
    • B: 不不不，那怎么行，拜托，别这样。 (Bù bù bù, nà zěnme xíng, bàituō, bié zhèyàng.)
    • English: No, no, no, how could I let you do that? Please, don't.
    • Analysis: Here bàituō is used to politely and earnestly refuse a very generous offer, implying “you're being too kind, I'm begging you not to.”
  • Example 9: (Using the structure “拜托你一件事”)
    • 我能拜托你一件事吗？我的车坏了，你能不能送我去机场？
    • Pinyin: Wǒ néng bàituō nǐ yī jiàn shì ma? Wǒ de chē huài le, nǐ néng bù néng sòng wǒ qù jīchǎng?
    • English: Can I ask you for a favor? My car broke down, could you possibly drive me to the airport?
    • Analysis: “拜托你一件事” is a very common and clear way to preface a significant request.
  • Example 10: (Formal written request)
    • 此事非同小可，万望阁下鼎力相助，拜托拜托。
    • Pinyin: Cǐ shì fēitóngxiǎokě, wàn wàng géxià dǐnglì xiāngzhù, bàituō bàituō.
    • English: This matter is of great importance. I sincerely hope for your strongest support. My deepest thanks and request.
    • Analysis: In formal or traditional writing, repeating 拜托 adds extreme formality and sincerity. This is less common in speech but can be seen in letters or formal messages.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • Mistake 1: Using `拜托` for Trivial Things.
    • Incorrect: 服务员，拜托，请给我一杯水。(Fúwùyuán, bàituō, qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ.)
    • Reason: This is wrong because asking for water is a simple, expected part of a waiter's job, not a personal favor. It sounds overly dramatic and strange.
    • Correct: 服务员，请给我一杯水。(Fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ.)
  • `拜托` vs. `请 (qǐng)`: This is the most critical distinction.
    • `请 (qǐng)`: General politeness. Use it for instructions, invitations, and simple requests. (e.g., 请坐 Qǐng zuò - Please sit; 请问 Qǐngwèn - May I please ask).
    • `拜托 (bàituō)`: Significant favors. Use it when you are genuinely burdening someone and want to show you are entrusting them with something important.
  • Forgetting the Importance of Tone: A learner might use bàituō with a flat, neutral tone, which can be confusing. It might come across as sarcastic when you mean to be sincere, or just sound awkward. Remember to use an earnest, respectful tone for sincere requests and a frustrated or incredulous tone for sarcastic remarks.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 请 (qǐng) - The standard, everyday word for “please.” Use this for most polite requests.
  • 麻烦你 (máfan nǐ) - Literally “to trouble you.” Used when asking for help that causes a small inconvenience. It's softer and less weighty than bàituō.
  • 求求你 (qiúqiu nǐ) - “I'm begging you / I implore you.” This is much more desperate and dramatic than bàituō. Use it when you are in serious trouble and truly pleading.
  • 劳驾 (láojià) - “Excuse me / May I trouble you.” A very polite way to get someone's attention or ask for a small favor, like asking for directions. More common in Northern China.
  • 拜托了 (bàituō le) - A very common form of bàituō, where the particle 了 (le) adds a feeling of finality, completion, or emphasis. It's like saying “I'm officially entrusting this to you now.”
  • 人情 (rénqíng) - The crucial cultural concept of human favor, social debt, and mutual obligation that underpins the use of bàituō.
  • 行行好 (xíng xíng hǎo) - “Do a good deed.” A phrase used for begging, often by people asking for money or charity. It's a plea to someone's sense of compassion.