He knelt down and begged the king to spare his life.
Tips
usage
Almost always used as a desperate plea by the person whose life is on the line: 饶命啊! / 求您饶命! Common in martial-arts dramas (武侠片) and historical fiction. Compare with 求饶 (qiúráo, 'to beg for mercy') which is broader.
memory
饶 = to forgive/spare + 命 = life. 'Spare-life' = 'spare my life!' The character 饶 also gives 饶恕 (ráoshù, 'to forgive').
