'乞讨' is a compound verb meaning 'to beg'—specifically, to ask for money, food, or other necessities from others, usually in public places. The first character 乞 (qǐ) means 'to beg' or 'to request humbly', while 讨 (tǎo) reinforces the sense of 'seeking' or 'asking for'—together they form a formal, slightly literary term for begging as an act of sustained, often desperate solicitation.

This word carries a neutral-to-slightly-negative connotation and is commonly used in news reports, social commentary, or official documents discussing poverty, urban management, or charity. It’s less common in casual speech (where people might say '要饭' or '讨饭') and rarely used metaphorically—it refers specifically to human behavior, not animal actions or abstract requests.