有求必应

有求必應
yǒuqiú-bìyìng
idiom #35,274

Meanings

  1. 1 to grant every request (idiom)
  2. 2 to respond to every plea
  3. 3 always willing to help

Examples

Tā duì péngyǒu yǒuqiúbìyìng, cóngbù tuīcí.
He'll do anything a friend asks — he never refuses.
Mā zǔ bèi xìntú men chēngwéi yǒuqiúbìyìng de shénmíng.
Mazu is called by her worshippers the deity who answers every prayer.

Tips

culture
A traditional epithet for benevolent deities (观音, , ) whose worshippers believe no sincere prayer goes unanswered. In daily use it now describes any reliably helpful person — parents, friends, a cooperative colleague.
usage
Usually positive, but can be ironic for someone too accommodating: 上司有求必应 suggests sycophancy. Note here is yìng (4th tone, 'to respond'), not yīng (1st tone, 'ought to').

Stroke Order

yǒu
qiú
yīng