请辞

When you hear the word 请辞, think of it as the formal, respectful version of saying 'I quit.' It is composed of 请 (to request) and 辞 (to decline or resign).

You will mostly see this in news reports or formal business letters. It implies that the person is not just walking away, but is formally notifying their superiors or the public of their decision to vacate a position.

It is a professional term that shows you are handling your departure with grace and protocol. Using this word suggests that the speaker values the dignity of the position they are leaving behind.

The term 请辞 has deep roots in classical Chinese administrative culture. Historically, officials would submit a petition to the Emperor to 'request to decline' their duties due to age, illness, or political disagreement.

The character 辞 (cí) originally meant to argue or speak, but evolved to mean 'declining an offer' or 'taking leave.' Combining it with 请 (qǐng) creates a phrase that emphasizes the voluntary nature of the resignation.

Over centuries, it transitioned from imperial court usage into modern corporate and political language. It reflects a traditional value system where even in leaving a job, one maintains a high level of decorum and respect for the institution.

In modern Chinese, you will find 请辞 used in professional settings. It is a formal register word, so you wouldn't use it when telling a friend you're quitting a part-time job at a coffee shop.

Common collocations include 正式请辞 (formally tender resignation) or 向某人请辞 (to submit one's resignation to someone). It is often followed by a reason, such as 因健康因素请辞 (resigning due to health reasons).

Always remember that this word is action-oriented. It describes the act of submitting the request, not necessarily the state of being unemployed.

1. 辞职信 (Resignation letter): The physical document used to 請辭.

2. 引咎辞职 (Resign to take responsibility): A very formal way to say one is resigning because they made a mistake.

3. 挂冠求去 (To hang up one's hat and leave): An old literary way to describe resigning.

4. 辞行 (To say goodbye before a journey): Related to the act of 'declining' further presence.

5. 辞官 (To resign from an official post): Used specifically for government roles.

Grammatically, 请辞 functions as a transitive verb. You can say 他请辞了 (He resigned) or 他向董事会请辞 (He submitted his resignation to the board).

Pronunciation: qǐng (third tone) + cí (second tone). The stress is generally even, but cí often carries the emphasis in a sentence.

It is not a noun, so you cannot say 'a请辞'. Instead, use 辞职 if you need a noun-like structure or 请辞请求 for 'resignation request'.