乞 qǐ to beg
to beg; to request
How it came to be
The air block, three drifting lines of vapour, with the bottom stroke taken away. Vapour with something missing: the character for asking was made by writing breath short.
How it is used
- To beg - for money or, formally, for a favor - 乞讨 (qǐtǎo) to beg for alms, 乞求 (qǐqiú) to plead for.
- Stronger and more abject than 请求 (to request): 乞 implies pleading from a position of need.
- Written register; the everyday noun is 乞丐 (qǐgài) beggar.