要求 (yāoqiú) — to require / requirement

HSK 3 | verb / noun | to require, to demand, to request; a requirement, demand, request

要求 (yāoqiú)

要求 works as both a verb meaning to require or demand and a noun meaning a requirement or demand. It implies a specific expectation or condition that must be met.

Meanings

  1. [verb] To require; to demand; to request; to ask (with expectation of compliance).
  2. [noun] Requirement; demand; request; condition.

Example Sentences

老师要求我们每天写日记。 Lǎoshī yāoqiú wǒmen měitiān xiě rìjì. The teacher requires us to write a diary every day.

这份工作的要求很高。 Zhè fèn gōngzuò de yāoqiú hěn gāo. The requirements for this job are very high.

他提出了一个不合理的要求。 Tā tíchū le yīgè bù hélǐ de yāoqiú. He put forward an unreasonable demand.

我要求得到一个解释。 Wǒ yāoqiú dédào yīgè jiěshì. I demand to receive an explanation.

Collocations

Collocation Meaning
提出要求 to put forward a demand
满足要求 to meet a requirement
要求很高 high demands / standards
基本要求 basic requirement
不合理的要求 unreasonable demand

Memory Hook

要 means to want or to need, and 求 means to seek or request. 要求 is to want something and actively seek it. When you 要求 something, you are not just wishing for it; you are formally requesting it and expecting it to happen.