Breakdown of qǐng bǎohù yìsuìpǐn, yǐmiǎn sǔnhuài.
请qǐng
to ask (politely)
保护bǎohù
to protect
损坏sǔnhuài
to be damaged
易碎品yìsuìpǐn
Questions & Answers about qǐng bǎohù yìsuìpǐn, yǐmiǎn sǔnhuài.
What does 请 mean here? Is it just please?
Yes, 请 here works like please, but in Chinese it often marks a polite request more broadly.
In this sentence, 请保护易碎品 means something like:
- Please protect the fragile items
- Please handle the fragile items carefully
On signs, notices, and instructions, 请 is very common. It can sound polite without being overly personal.
Why is there no subject in this sentence? Who is supposed to do the action?
Chinese often omits the subject when it is obvious from context.
In a warning sign, package label, or instruction, the understood subject is usually:
- you
- the reader
- whoever is handling the item
So 请保护易碎品，以免损坏 naturally means Please protect the fragile items so that they are not damaged, even though you is not stated.
This is very common in Chinese instructions.
Is 易碎品 one word, and what does it literally mean?