‘乞援’ is a formal, literary verb meaning 'to beg for assistance' or 'to plead for help.' It combines 乞 (qǐ), which means 'to beg' or 'to request humbly,' and 援 (yuán), meaning 'aid,' 'support,' or 'relief.' Together, they convey an urgent, often desperate appeal for external help—typically in serious, high-stakes situations such as emergencies, crises, or life-threatening conditions. The word carries strong connotations of vulnerability and urgency, and it is rarely used in casual daily speech.

This term appears most frequently in written Chinese: historical texts, news reports about disasters or conflicts, medical narratives describing critical patient conditions, or formal appeals from institutions. Its tone is solemn and somewhat archaic; modern spoken Chinese usually prefers simpler alternatives like ‘求助’ (qiú zhù) or ‘请求帮助’ (qǐngqiú bāngzhù). Because of its gravity, using ‘乞援’ inappropriately—such as for minor inconveniences—can sound overly dramatic or unnatural.