<p>which 拜托 are you talking about? 
拜托某人做某事. ask/request somebody to do something (for you).</p>

<p>or</p>

<p>拜托! Please!/Come on!/I beg you .... </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-29T07:37:49.060Z
What's the difference between the two? I always thought it was more or less the same thing, which perhaps explains some of the confusion! Would you be able to explain a little more?
Ciaocibai
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-29T05:41:39.983Z
2012-01-29T05:41:39.983Z
Fivesheep
<p>The literal meaning is 'to respectfully ask someone to do something', and sometimes it's used in that way. But often, even though it's used as a verb, 拜托你xxx can just be translated as 'please can you do xxx for me'. It's not as common as 'please' in English though, so it sounds more formal / polite.</p>

<p>You can also use it semi-sarcastically to show your exasperation with someone - nciku.com gives 拜托你闭嘴 (please just shut up) and 拜托你少管闲事 (I'll thank you to mind your own business).</p>

<p>As well as being a verb, you can use it on its own or at the end of a sentence. As above, this is either a polite phrase like "I'm begging you for your assistance" or a sarcastic phrase meaning "oh for God's sake" depending on context.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-30T21:49:19.647Z
+1 you nailed it.
Laguna
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-29T10:59:50.633Z
2012-01-29T10:59:50.633Z
Ironfrost
<p>I quite like the expression 拜托, but I've never been 100% sure of what exactly it means in English, and I'm not quite sure how to use it properly in Chinese. Little help?</p>

<mandarin><usage><translation>
What is the English equivalent of 拜托, and what is it's proper usage in Chinese?
# What is the English equivalent of 拜托, and what is it's proper usage in Chinese?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-01-29)

I quite like the expression 拜托, but I've never been 100% sure of what exactly it means in English, and I'm not quite sure how to use it properly in Chinese. Little help?

**Tags:** mandarin, usage, translation


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-01-29. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

The literal meaning is 'to respectfully ask someone to do something', and sometimes it's used in that way. But often, even though it's used as a verb, 拜托你xxx can just be translated as 'please can you do xxx for me'. It's not as common as 'please' in English though, so it sounds more formal / polite.

You can also use it semi-sarcastically to show your exasperation with someone - nciku.com gives 拜托你闭嘴 (please just shut up) and 拜托你少管闲事 (I'll thank you to mind your own business).

As well as being a verb, you can use it on its own or at the end of a sentence. As above, this is either a polite phrase like "I'm begging you for your assistance" or a sarcastic phrase meaning "oh for God's sake" depending on context.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: +1 you nailed it.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2012-01-29. Score: 2

which 拜托 are you talking about?
拜托某人做某事. ask/request somebody to do something (for you).

or

拜托! Please!/Come on!/I beg you ....

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: What's the difference between the two? I always thought it was more or less the same thing, which perhaps explains some of the confusion! Would you be able to explain a little more?  

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