The kanji 請 primarily conveys the meaning of "to ask," "to request," or "to receive." It implies a formal or polite request, or an acceptance of a duty or responsibility. It often suggests a sense of obligation or undertaking.

・On-yomi (音読み): セイ (sei) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): こ（う） (kou - from the verb 請う, "to ask", "to request")

⚫︎ 申請（しんせい） Translation: Application; request. ⚫︎ ご請（せ）う Translation: Invitation ⚫︎ 承（う）け請う Translation: To accept; to undertake (a request or responsibility).

The kanji 請 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字 - keisei moji). The semantic component (meaning) is 言 (げん - gen), which means "word" or "speech," and indicates that the character relates to spoken requests or statements. The phonetic component is 青 (せい - sei), which provides the sound. Together, they create a character that originally meant "to ask for," "to beg," or "to request" something with words. Over time, the meaning broadened to include accepting a responsibility or undertaking a task.