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    Chinese Grammar

    Making polite requests with 请 (qǐng) as a verb meaning "to hire" or "to engage"

    HSK 2
    Actions & Events

    Structure

    Subject + 请 + 了 + Person

    Explanation

    The verb 请 (qǐng) can also mean "to hire" or "to engage" someone for a service or role. In this usage, it refers to formally bringing someone in to do a job. For example, 我们请了一个老师 means "we hired a teacher."

    Examples

    • 公司请了一位设计师来做网站。

      Gōngsī qǐng le yī wèi shèjìshī lái zuò wǎngzhàn.

      The company hired a designer to build the website.

    • 我们请了个阿姨打扫房子。

      Wǒmen qǐng le gè āyí dǎsǎo fángzi.

      We hired a housekeeper to clean the house.

    • 学校请了一位外教教英语。

      Xuéxiào qǐng le yī wèi wàijiào jiāo Yīngyǔ.

      The school hired a foreign teacher to teach English.

    Making polite requests with 请 (qǐng) as a verb meaning "to hire" or "to engage" | Chinese Grammar