請 means “request, ask for”

せい · sei

Also: solicit, invite, ask

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

こう, うける

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

セイ, シン, ショウ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 15 strokes

The story

Words (言) as clear as a blue (青) sky: picture asking plainly for what you are owed. 請求書 is the invoice that asks for payment, 申請 an application for a visa or permit, and a 下請け is a subcontractor.

Used in 請求 (seikyuu, billing/claim), 申請 (shinsei, application), and 要請 (yousei, formal request)

More from Ask & Persuade

• 迫 close in
• 誘 invite
• 促 urge
• 勧 advise
• 薦 recommend
• 励 encourage
• 奨 encourage
• 諾 consent
• 嘱 entrust
• 乞 beg
• 応 respond

Learn 請 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.