Learn Hardcore Chinese: qǐng nǐ mànmàn de tián zhè gè biǎogé.

Grammatically, 你慢慢地填这个表格 is a complete sentence.
Adding 请 just makes it more polite or softer.
In everyday speech, people often omit 请 and rely on tone of voice to sound polite, but 请 is very common in written instructions, service contexts, or when speaking more formally or respectfully.

So 请 is optional grammatically but important for politeness and tone.

Why do we say 慢慢地填 and not just 慢填 or 慢慢填? What does 地 do?

地 (de) here is a structural particle that turns an adjective or adjective-like phrase into an adverb, describing how the action is done.

慢慢 = slowly, unhurriedly (an adverb-like expression)
填 = to fill in (a form, blanks, etc.)
慢慢地填 = to fill (it) in slowly / carefully / take your time filling it in

Formally, the pattern is:

(Adj / Adj phrase) + 地 + Verb
e.g. 认真地学习 (to study seriously), 高兴地说 (say happily)

In modern spoken Chinese:

People often drop 地 and just say 慢慢填.
Both 慢慢地填 and 慢慢填 are correct; 慢慢地填 feels a bit more formal or written.

慢填 is also possible, but 慢慢 is much more common and natural for “slowly; take your time.”

What is the difference between 慢 and 慢慢?

Both involve the idea of “slow,” but the nuance is different:

慢 = slow (basic adjective)
- 车很慢 = The car is slow.
- 你说得太慢了 = You speak too slowly.
慢慢 = slowly / unhurriedly / take your time
- Reduplication (慢 → 慢慢) often softens or emphasizes the manner.
- 慢慢来 = Take your time (don’t rush).
- 你慢慢说 = Say it slowly / Take your time speaking.

In 慢慢地填这个表格, 慢慢 suggests “don’t rush, do it carefully and at your own pace,” not just “at a low speed.” It adds a comforting, gentle tone.

What exactly does 填 mean here? Why not use 写?

填 (tián) means to fill in / to fill out—specifically, to put information into blanks, forms, questionnaires, etc.

填表格 = to fill in a form
填空题 = fill-in-the-blank questions

写 (xiě) means to write in a general sense.

You 写字 (write characters), 写信 (write a letter), 写文章 (write an article).

For forms:

You almost always say 填表格, 填写表格, or 填表 rather than 写表格.
填写 is a slightly more formal version of 填, often seen in instructions:
请认真填写这份表格。

So 填这个表格 is the natural, idiomatic choice for “fill in this form.”

Why do we need 个 in 这个表格? Why can’t we just say 这表格?

In Chinese, measure words / classifiers are normally required between a demonstrative (like 这, 那) or a number and a noun.

Basic pattern:

这 / 那 / 几 / 一 / 两 + measure word + noun

For 表格, common measure words include:

一个表格
一张表格 (emphasizing something flat / on paper)

With 这, you get:

这个表格 = this form
这张表格 = this (sheet of) form

Saying 这表格 is non-standard in standard Mandarin. Native speakers virtually always insert a measure word here.

So 这个表格 follows the normal rule: 这 + 个 + 表格.

Can we leave out 你 and just say 请慢慢地填这个表格? Would that sound different?

Yes, you can omit 你, and the sentence is still natural:

请慢慢地填这个表格。

Differences in nuance:

请你慢慢地填这个表格。
- Directly addresses you.
- Feels more personal and direct.
请慢慢地填这个表格。
- Sounds a bit more impersonal or instruction-like, as if addressing anyone reading a notice, poster, or form instruction.

Both are polite; the version with 你 is more like spoken, one-to-one communication.

Is the word order fixed? Could we say things like 请你填这个表格，慢慢地 or 请你慢慢地这个表格填?

Some variations are possible, but not all of them are natural.

Most natural word orders:

请你慢慢地填这个表格。
请你慢慢填这个表格。 (dropping 地)
请慢慢地填这个表格。 (omit 你)
In spoken Chinese, people also say:
这个表格请你慢慢地填。 (fronting the object for emphasis)

The phrase 请你慢慢地这个表格填 is unnatural; the verb and its object (填这个表格) normally stay together, and the adverbial (慢慢地) goes before the verb or (less commonly) after the entire clause.

You can say something like:

请你填这个表格，慢慢地。

This is more like two parts in speech:
Please fill in this form—slowly / take your time.
It is acceptable in spoken language, but as a single formal sentence, the original order (请你慢慢地填这个表格) is more standard.

What is the difference between 表格, 表, and 表单? When do I use 表格?

All three can relate to “forms” or “tables,” but usage differs:

表格 (biǎogé)
- Common, neutral word for a form or table (like an application form, registration form, etc.).
- Very safe default in most situations.
表 (biǎo)
- More general: list, chart, form, table.
- Often used in compound words:
  - 时间表 (timetable)
  - 课程表 (class schedule)
- 填表 = to fill in a form (short for 填表格).
表单 (biǎodān)
- More common in computing / web / software contexts: online forms, input forms.
- You might see it in user interfaces, documentation, etc.

In this sentence, 表格 is a good neutral choice for a paper or digital form that someone needs to fill in.

What exactly does 慢慢地 imply? Is it just “slowly,” or does it sound like a command to be extra careful?

慢慢地 does literally mean “slowly,” but in this context it carries a warmer, softer nuance:

Not only low speed, but also don’t rush, take your time, do it carefully / comfortably.
Compared with just 快点填这个表格 (“Fill this form faster”), 慢慢地填这个表格 sounds patient and considerate.

In 请你慢慢地填这个表格, the speaker is:

Saying “please” (请),
Using 慢慢地 to reduce pressure and suggest it’s okay to take time and be thorough.

It’s more kind and reassuring than a strict instruction.

Could we replace 慢慢地 with 慢慢儿 or other similar expressions?

You might see or hear related expressions, but they’re not all interchangeable here:

慢慢儿 (mànmār, northern / Beijing flavor)
- Often in phrases like 你慢慢儿吃 (“eat slowly, take your time eating”).
- It has a casual, colloquial feel.
In this sentence’s context (more neutral / possibly written instruction), 慢慢地 or 慢慢 are better choices.

So:

请你慢慢填这个表格。 ✅
请你慢慢儿填这个表格。
- Understandable, but sounds more colloquial/regional; not typical in formal instructions.

Stick with 慢慢(地) as the standard, widely acceptable form.

How should I actually pronounce 请你 together, given that both 请 (qǐng) and 你 (nǐ) are third tone?

When two third-tone syllables come together, Mandarin applies tone sandhi:

The first third tone changes to a second tone (rising), and
The second syllable keeps its third tone.

So:

Written tones: qǐng nǐ
Spoken tones: qíng nǐ (2nd tone + 3rd tone)

You still write them as third tone in pinyin (qǐng nǐ), but you pronounce them as if they were qíng nǐ. This is normal and automatic in natural speech.