verb HSK 4
Traditional 討
to ask for · to demand · to beg · to invite (attack/punishment)
Meaning
讨 is a versatile verb that fundamentally means to seek, request, or ask for something. It appears in many compound words and expressions where someone is actively pursuing something—whether it's requesting a favor, inviting trouble, or even seeking a spouse.
Usage
讨 rarely appears alone in modern Mandarin and is almost always used in compound words like 讨厌 (to dislike), 讨论 (to discuss), or 讨好 (to curry favor). When used independently, it often carries a sense of actively pursuing or inviting something, sometimes with negative connotations like inviting trouble.
Examples
- 01他这样做是自讨苦吃。.By doing this, he's asking for trouble himself.
- 02我们讨论了这个问题很久。.We discussed this issue for a long time.
Common collocations
- 讨厌to dislike, annoying
- 讨论to discuss
- 讨好to curry favor with, to please
- 讨价还价to bargain, to haggle
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 討 combines the speech radical 言 with 寸 (hand/measure), suggesting the act of using words to make requests or demands.