The word 请客 is formed by combining the character 请 (qǐng), meaning "to invite" or "to request", with the character 客 (kè), meaning "guest" or "visitor". It conceptually merges the action of extending an invitation with the recipient of that invitation, creating a single, unified idea that means "to treat someone" (to a meal, entertainment, etc.), where the host performs the act of "inviting the guest" and, by cultural implication, takes on the responsibility of paying. The term thus encapsulates a complete social scenario within its two-character structure.