要求

• Reading: ようきゅう
• Romaji: youkyuu
• Kanji breakdown: 要 (yō) — need, essential; 求 (kyū) — seek, request
• Pronunciation: /joː.kjɯː/

Meaning

Request; demand. A strong request or requirement directed at someone.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (要求する). Stronger than お願い (request) or 依頼 (commission), carrying an authoritative or insistent tone. Used in labour negotiations (賃上げ要求 = wage increase demand), legal contexts, and technical contexts (システム要求 = system requirements). The noun form emphasizes the content of the demand itself.

Examples

1. 労働者たちは待遇改善の要求を出した。 The workers submitted a demand for better working conditions.
2. この仕事には高い集中力が要求される。 This job demands a high level of concentration.
3. 相手の要求をすべて受け入れるわけにはいかない。 We can't just accept all of their demands.

Usage Guide

Context: business, labour, legal

Tone: assertive

Origin & History

Compound of 要 (yō, need/essential) and 求 (kyū, seek/request). Literally 'seeking what is essential' — a firm insistence on what is needed.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal