要求します（ようきゅうします、youkyuうshimasu）
- to demand

The Japanese verb 要求します, read as ようきゅうします (yōkyū shimasu), means "to request," "to demand," "to claim," or "to require." It signifies a formal or strong expression of a need or desire, often implying a sense of obligation or entitlement. It generally suggests that something is needed or wanted from someone or something, and is often used in business, formal settings, or when making serious requests. 要求します can be used in different contexts, from making a formal request to lodging a demand. The nuance of the word changes depending on the situation and the context of the sentence.

⚫︎会社は従業員に報告書の提出を要求します Translation: The company requires employees to submit reports. ⚫︎お客様は返金を要求します Translation: The customer is demanding a refund. ⚫︎政府は国民に協力をお願いするだけでなく、行動を要求します Translation: The government not only requests cooperation from the public but also demands action.

⚫︎要求します is typically used in formal or serious contexts. ⚫︎ It is appropriate when there is a strong need or expectation. ⚫︎ It implies a certain level of formality and directness. ⚫︎ Consider the context and the relationship between the speaker and the listener before using it, as it can sound assertive. ⚫︎ It's often used in business correspondence, legal documents, or official communications.

⚫︎ 要求します is written in kanji 要求 combined with the polite verb ending します (shimasu). ⚫︎ 要求 (yōkyū) itself is a noun meaning "request," "demand," or "requirement." ⚫︎ The kanji 要 means "need" or "essential." ⚫︎ The kanji 求 means "to seek" or "to request." ⚫︎ The します is the polite form of the verb "to do." ⚫︎ Conjugations: * Present affirmative: 要求します (yōkyū shimasu) - 要求します * Present negative: 要求しません (yōkyū shimasen) * Past affirmative: 要求しました (yōkyū shimashita) * Past negative: 要求しませんでした (yōkyū shimasen deshita)

⚫︎ 求める (motomeru) - to seek, to request (less formal than 要求します) ⚫︎ 依頼する (irai suru) - to request (more polite and less demanding than 要求します) ⚫︎ 請求する (seikyū suru) - to claim, to demand payment ⚫︎ 求める (motomeru) - to seek, to demand, to request

⚫︎ 与える (ataeru) - to give, to grant ⚫︎ 提供する (teikyō suru) - to offer, to provide ⚫︎ 拒否する (kyohi suru) - to refuse

彼は会社に昇給を要求します ・Translation: He is requesting a salary increase from the company. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates a formal request being made.

顧客はサービスの改善を要求します ・Translation: The customer demands improvement of the service. ・Explanation: This sentence is an example of the use of 要求します to express a demand.

The word 要求 is derived from the combination of two kanji: 要 (yō), meaning "need" or "essential," and 求 (kyū), meaning "to seek" or "to request". Therefore, 要求します embodies the idea of "seeking what is needed" or "making a formal request."