請求します（せいきゅうします、seikyuushimasu）
- to claim

The Japanese word 請求します （読み方: せいきゅうします, _seikyuu shimasu_) means "to request," "to claim," or "to demand." It implies making a formal request for something, typically money, goods, or services, that is owed or due. It is a polite and respectful form of the verb. The core meaning revolves around formally asking for something that is rightfully yours or that you are entitled to. It suggests an official request, often in a business or legal context. This is often related to situations where a right to something exists. It can also mean to present a bill or invoice.

⚫︎ 料金を請求します。 Translation: I will bill you for the fee. ⚫︎ 支払い を 請求します。 Translation: I will request payment. ⚫︎ 損害賠償を請求します。 Translation: I will claim compensation for damages.

⚫︎ Use 請求します in formal situations, such as business communications, official requests, or legal contexts. ⚫︎ It is often used when sending an invoice, requesting payment, or making a claim. ⚫︎ Avoid using it in casual conversations with friends or family where a less formal phrasing would be appropriate. Instead, you could use ください（_kudasai_ - "please give me") or another more casual verb. ⚫︎ [請求します] is the polite, ます-form, so be sure to use it correctly in its present/future tense. The dictionary form, 請求する (_seikyuu suru_), is also used, but is less formal.

⚫︎ 請求します is typically written in kanji, with the verb ending in hiragana: 請求します. ⚫︎ The kanji 請求 means "request" or "claim." ⚫︎ The verb します (_shimasu_) is the polite form of "to do." ⚫︎ Other forms: ⚫︎ 請求する (_seikyuu suru_): Dictionary form ⚫︎ 請求した (_seikyuu shita_): Past tense (I requested) ⚫︎ 請求しません (_seikyuu shimasen_): Negative form (I will not request) ⚫︎ 請求してください (_seikyuu shite kudasai_): Please request

⚫︎ 要求します (_youkyuu shimasu_): To demand, to request (more forceful) ⚫︎ 求める (_motomeru_): To seek, to request (less formal than [請求します]) ⚫︎ お願いする (_onegai suru_): To request, to ask (polite, used in wider context) ⚫︎ 申し込む (_moushikomu_): To apply for (for services, memberships)

⚫︎ None directly applicable, as it's a verb expressing an action. However, the opposite of making a claim would be not making a claim or not requesting something.

サービス利用料金を 請求 請求します ・Translation: I will bill you for the service usage fee. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates a common usage of [請求します] in a business context, when the speaker is informing the listener that they will be billed for a service.

彼は会社に退職金を 請求 請求しました。 ・Translation: He requested his retirement allowance from the company. ・Explanation: This example demonstrates how [請求します] can be used when someone is formally requesting something they are entitled to, in this case, a retirement allowance.

The word 請求 is a compound word formed from two kanji: ⚫︎ 請 (_sei_): meaning "to ask," "to request," or "to receive." ⚫︎ 求 (_kyuu_): meaning "to seek," "to request," or "to demand." The verb ending, します, is added to make the sentence in polite Japanese form.