How to say "请" in German

In German, politeness is deeply tied to formality and social hierarchy. Unlike in Chinese where 请 (qǐng) can be used broadly, bitte in German shifts meaning depending on context—it’s not just a standalone word but often embedded in phrases. Beginners should know that bitte alone is casual or neutral, while adding it to requests (e.g., Könnten Sie bitte…?) makes them polite. Addressing strangers, elders, or people in authority (like teachers or bosses) requires Sie (formal “you”), while du (informal “you”) is for friends, children, or peers. Overusing bitte without context can sound unnatural or overly familiar.

1. Casual or neutral requests Use bitte when asking for something in a relaxed setting, like with friends or family. It’s the most common way to say “please” in everyday speech, but it’s not overly formal.

   • Kannst du mir bitte das Salz geben? "Can you please pass me the salt?"
   • Gib mir bitte das Buch. "Give me the book, please."

2. Polite requests (formal or with strangers) For polite requests—especially with strangers, elders, or in professional settings—add bitte to a question starting with Könnten Sie…? (Could you…?), Könntest du…? (Could you…?), or Würden Sie…? (Would you…?). This softens the request and shows respect.

   • Könnten Sie bitte das Fenster schließen? "Could you please close the window?"
   • Würden Sie bitte einen Moment warten? "Would you please wait a moment?"

3. Offering something (inviting or giving) Bitte is also used when offering something, similar to “here you go” or “please take it.” It’s warm and inviting, often paired with a gesture.

   • Hier, bitte schön! "Here, please take this!"
   • Bitte, nehmen Sie Platz. "Please, take a seat."

4. Responding to thanks (you’re welcome) While not a request, bitte is commonly used to respond to Danke (thank you), meaning “you’re welcome.” It’s the default response in most situations.

   • Danke für die Hilfe! "Thank you for your help!" Bitte. "You’re welcome."

5. Emphasizing politeness (with “schön” or “mal”) Adding schön (nicely) or mal (just/a bit) to bitte makes the request sound even more polite or gentle. Mal is very casual, while schön is universally polite.

   • Könnten Sie bitte schön leise sein? "Could you please be quiet?"
   • Komm bitte mal hierher. "Come here for a moment, please."

👉 Most useful for daily life: Memorize bitte first for casual requests, and Könnten Sie bitte…? for polite situations. These two cover 80% of everyday use. Pair bitte with schön or mal to sound more natural, but avoid overusing it in formal emails—there, full sentences like Ich bitte Sie… are better.