yāoqiú: 要求 - To Request, To Demand, Requirement

• Keywords: 要求 meaning, yāoqiú, Chinese for demand, Chinese for requirement, request in Chinese, yāoqiú vs xūyào, how to use 要求, HSK 3 grammar, formal Chinese request
• Summary: The Chinese word 要求 (yāoqiú) is a fundamental term for both beginners and advanced learners, meaning “to request,” “to demand,” or “a requirement.” It functions as both a verb and a noun, making it highly versatile. Understanding the difference between a formal 要求 (yāoqiú) and a simple need (需要, xūyào) is crucial for navigating social and professional situations in China. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and provides practical sentence examples to help you master its usage.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yāoqiú
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To formally request or demand something; a requirement or a condition that is demanded.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 要求 (yāoqiú) as a strong, direct “ask.” It's more serious than just wanting or hoping for something. It can be a neutral, formal request, like a job requirement, or a firm demand from a person in authority, like a boss or a teacher. The key is that it implies a specific expectation that needs to be met.

• 要 (yāo): While this character is commonly read as `yào` (to want), here it's pronounced `yāo` and means “to request” or “to demand.” It carries a sense of necessity and obligation.
• 求 (qiú): This character means “to seek,” “to ask for,” or “to plead for.” It depicts a person seeking something valuable.

When combined, 要求 (yāoqiú) literally means “to demand-seek.” The two characters reinforce each other to create a word that signifies an active and explicit act of seeking to have a specific condition or standard met.

In Western cultures, there's often a clear line between a “request” (polite, optional) and a “demand” (forceful, non-optional). 要求 (yāoqiú) blurs this line, with its specific meaning heavily dependent on the social hierarchy and context.

• Hierarchy is Key: A boss making a 要求 (yāoqiú) of an employee is normal and expected. It's simply a statement of work requirements. However, an employee making a 要求 (yāoqiú) of their boss would be considered extremely bold and potentially insubordinate. They would use a much softer term like 建议 (jiànyì - suggestion) or 请求 (qǐngqiú - formal request).
• Directness vs. Face (面子): While Chinese culture often values indirectness to preserve 面子 (miànzi - social standing/face), 要求 (yāoqiú) is used in contexts where clarity and directness are paramount—such as in business contracts, academic standards, and technical specifications. In these formal settings, being direct with a 要求 (yāoqiú) is professional. In personal relationships, however, making a 要求 (yāoqiú) can sound cold or demanding, and a softer word like 希望 (xīwàng - to hope) is often preferred.

要求 (yāoqiú) is extremely common in daily life, especially in formal and professional environments.

This is used when someone is actively stating a demand or request. It's common in work, school, and official settings.

• Workplace: 老板要求我们明天早上交报告。 (Lǎobǎn yāoqiú wǒmen míngtiān zǎoshang jiāo bàogào.) - The boss requires us to submit the report tomorrow morning.
• Parenting: 我要求你马上做作业。 (Wǒ yāoqiú nǐ mǎshàng zuò zuòyè.) - I demand that you do your homework right now.

This is used to refer to the conditions or standards themselves.

• Job Hunting: 这个工作的要求很高。 (Zhège gōngzuò de yāoqiú hěn gāo.) - The requirements for this job are very high.
• Customer Service: 我们会尽力满足您的要求。 (Wǒmen huì jìnlì mǎnzú nín de yāoqiú.) - We will do our best to meet your requirements.
• Relationships: 他对女朋友的要求太高了。 (Tā duì nǚpéngyou de yāoqiú tài gāo le.) - His requirements for a girlfriend are too high.

• Example 1:
  • 老师要求所有学生都准时上课。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī yāoqiú suǒyǒu xuéshēng dōu zhǔnshí shàngkè.
  • English: The teacher requires all students to be on time for class.
  • Analysis: A standard, neutral use of 要求 as a verb in a hierarchical context (teacher to student). It's a clear instruction, not a suggestion.
• Example 2:
  • 这是客户提出的新要求。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì kèhù tíchū de xīn yāoqiú.
  • English: This is a new requirement raised by the client.
  • Analysis: Here, 要求 is a noun. In a business context, this is a very common and professional way to discuss client needs.
• Example 3:
  • 你有什么特别的要求吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yǒu shénme tèbié de yāoqiú ma?
  • English: Do you have any special requests/requirements?
  • Analysis: A common question in service industries (hotels, restaurants) or business negotiations. It's direct but polite in this context.
• Example 4:
  • 公司满足不了他的薪水要求。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī mǎnzú bùliǎo tā de xīnshuǐ yāoqiú.
  • English: The company cannot meet his salary demands.
  • Analysis: 要求 used as a noun for “demands” in a negotiation. It's a neutral term to describe the conditions one party has set.
• Example 5:
  • 我对自己的要求很严格。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ duì zìjǐ de yāoqiú hěn yángé.
  • English: I am very strict with myself. (Lit: My requirements for myself are very strict.)
  • Analysis: This shows 要求 can be used for self-imposed standards. It has a positive connotation of being disciplined and ambitious.
• Example 6:
  • 按照规定，你必须符合这些要求才能申请。
  • Pinyin: Ànzhào guīdìng, nǐ bìxū fúhé zhèxiē yāoqiú cái néng shēnqǐng.
  • English: According to the regulations, you must meet these requirements in order to apply.
  • Analysis: 要求 as a noun, referring to official, non-negotiable criteria.
• Example 7:
  • 他要求见经理。
  • Pinyin: Tā yāoqiú jiàn jīnglǐ.
  • English: He demanded to see the manager.
  • Analysis: This implies a stronger, more insistent action than simply asking. The person is likely upset or has a serious issue.
• Example 8:
  • 这个项目对技术要求非常高。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù duì jìshù yāoqiú fēicháng gāo.
  • English: This project has extremely high technical requirements.
  • Analysis: A common phrase in engineering, IT, and other technical fields. 要求 is a noun here.
• Example 9:
  • 我不应该对你提出那么多要求。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù yīnggāi duì nǐ tíchū nàme duō yāoqiú.
  • English: I shouldn't have made so many demands of you.
  • Analysis: An apology that acknowledges the speaker's demands were excessive. This shows its use in a personal context, where it can be negative.
• Example 10:
  • 政府要求公民遵守新的法律。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ yāoqiú gōngmín zūnshǒu xīn de fǎlǜ.
  • English: The government requires citizens to abide by the new laws.
  • Analysis: A formal, official use of 要求 as a verb, indicating a mandate or directive from an authority.

• 要求 (yāoqiú) vs. 需要 (xūyào): This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
  • 需要 (xūyào) means “to need.” It describes a state or a necessity. It is not an action directed at another person.
    • Correct: 我需要帮助。(Wǒ xūyào bāngzhù.) - I need help.
  • 要求 (yāoqiú) means “to demand/request.” It is an action of telling someone what you want them to do.
    • Correct: 我要求你帮助我。(Wǒ yāoqiú nǐ bāngzhù wǒ.) - I demand that you help me. (This sounds very strong and potentially rude).
  • Mistake: Saying “我要求水 (Wǒ yāoqiú shuǐ)” when you're thirsty. This sounds like you are imperiously demanding water. You should say “我需要水 (Wǒ xūyào shuǐ)” or “请给我一杯水 (Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ).”
• Using 要求 in Polite, Informal Requests:
  • Mistake: Using 要求 when a simple, polite 请 (qǐng) would suffice. It makes you sound demanding and rude in casual situations.
    • Incorrect: 我要求你把盐递给我。(Wǒ yāoqiú nǐ bǎ yán dì gěi wǒ.) - I demand you pass me the salt.
    • Correct: 请你把盐递给我。(Qǐng nǐ bǎ yán dì gěi wǒ.) - Please pass me the salt.

• 需要 (xūyào) - To need. A state of necessity, much softer and more internal than 要求.
• 请求 (qǐngqiú) - To request, to petition. More formal and often more humble than 要求. It implies the other person has the full power to refuse.
• 命令 (mìnglìng) - To command; an order. Much stronger than 要求, used in military or emergency contexts. There is no room for negotiation.
• 规定 (guīdìng) - Regulation, rule. A 规定 is an official, established rule, while a 要求 can be a one-time demand.
• 标准 (biāozhǔn) - Standard, criterion. A standard is a benchmark; a 要求 is often that you must meet a certain 标准.
• 条件 (tiáojiàn) - Condition, term (e.g., in a contract). Often used in negotiations. You might make a 要求 for certain 条件.
• 希望 (xīwàng) - To hope, to wish. Very soft and expresses a desire without any obligation on the other person.
• 建议 (jiànyì) - To suggest; a suggestion. An idea offered for consideration, not a demand. The opposite of 要求 in terms of forcefulness.