乞求 (qǐ qiú) is a formal, literary verb meaning 'to plead for' or 'to beg desperately for' something — often with deep emotion, humility, or urgency. The first character 乞 (qǐ) means 'to beg' and originally depicted a person stretching out their hand; the second character 求 (qiú) means 'to seek' or 'to request', reinforcing the sense of earnest, persistent appeal. Together, they form a compound that conveys more intensity and emotional weight than either character alone — suggesting vulnerability, desperation, or profound need.

This word is commonly used in written Chinese, literature, news reports, or solemn speech — for example, when describing someone begging for mercy, forgiveness, help in crisis, or divine intervention. It rarely appears in casual daily conversation, where simpler terms like 求 (qiú) or 请求 (qǐngqiú) are preferred. While it can describe human-to-human appeals, it also frequently appears in contexts involving humans pleading to higher powers, authorities, or even animals in metaphorical or anthropomorphic usage.