to plead
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to plead
To ask someone for something urgently, emotionally, and insistently. It expresses great urgency or desperation.
Mit Tränen in den Augen flehte sie, man möge ihr Kind freilassen.
With tears in her eyes, she pleaded for her child to be released.
When pleading for something specific, you use the preposition 'um' followed by the accusative. This construction is very common.
Der Gefangene flehte um Gnade.
The prisoner pleaded for mercy.
'Flehen' (to plead) is a very strong and emotional verb. It is not used for everyday requests, but expresses great desperation or urgency.
Er flehte sie an, ihn nicht zu verlassen.
He pleaded with her not to leave him.
The request can also be expressed by a subordinate clause with 'dass' or an infinitive construction with 'zu'. This describes the exact action being pleaded for.
Sie flehte, dass er ihr noch eine Chance geben möge.
She pleaded that he might give her one more chance.
to ask / request
'bitten' and 'flehen' both mean that someone wants another person to do or give something. The difference is mainly in intensity. 'bitten' is polite and normal in everyday life, for example with a question, help, or an invitation. 'flehen' is much stronger and very emotional. You use it when someone is desperate or needs something very urgently. Learners may confuse the words because 'flehen' is also a kind of asking. But 'flehen' does not fit normal polite situations. As a practical rule: in everyday life, usually use 'bitten'; in very serious or desperate situations, use 'flehen'.
Nach dem Unfall flehte der Fahrer die Ärztin an, sofort zu kommen.
After the accident, the driver pleaded with the doctor to come immediately.
Ich bitte dich um Hilfe, weil ich die Aufgabe nicht allein schaffe.
I am asking you for help because I cannot manage the task on my own.