要望

• Reading: ようぼう
• Romaji: youbou
• Kanji breakdown: 要 (you) — essential, need, require; 望 (bou) — desire, hope, wish
• Pronunciation: /joː.boː/

Meaning

Demand; request. A strong wish or formal request for something to be done.

A noun and suru-verb meaning to make a formal request or express a strong desire for action. More forceful than お願い (onegai, request/favour) but less aggressive than 要求 (youkyuu, demand). Commonly used in business and civic contexts: 市民の要望 (citizens' requests), 要望書 (written request/petition). Implies that the request carries weight and expects a response.

Examples

1. 住民から公園の整備について要望が出された。 Residents submitted requests regarding the upkeep of the park.
2. 顧客の要望に応えるために新サービスを開発した。 We developed a new service to meet customer demands.
3. 社員たちは給与の改善を要望した。 Employees put in a formal request for better wages.

Usage Guide

Context: business, government, customer service

Tone: assertive

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 要 (you, essential/need) + 望 (bou, desire/hope). Literally 'essential desire' — a wish that the speaker considers important and necessary to fulfil.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal