請求（せいきゅう、seikyuu）
- claim

The Japanese word 請求, pronounced せいきゅう (seikyuu), generally means "request," "claim," "demand," or "charge." It refers to the act of asking for something, especially money or goods, that is owed to you. It often implies a formal or official request, often supported by documentation or an agreement. This can include billing for services, requesting payment for goods sold, or making a legal claim. The meaning can vary slightly depending on the context, but the core concept remains the same: to formally ask for something. It can also be a 請求, such as a refund.

⚫︎料金の請求 Translation: Billing, Charge for services ⚫︎支払いの請求書 Translation: Invoice, bill ⚫︎損害賠償を請求する Translation: To claim for damages

You would use 請求 when you are formally asking for something, especially money or goods. ⚫︎When sending an invoice to a customer. ⚫︎When making a claim for compensation. ⚫︎When requesting payment for services rendered. ⚫︎When someone is in debt to you. It's often used in business, legal, and formal settings. It’s important to note that this word carries a certain level of formality, so it's not typically used in casual everyday conversation when asking a friend for a favor.

The word 請求 is primarily written using Kanji. ⚫︎Kanji: 請求 ⚫︎Hiragana: せいきゅう (used for pronunciation) There are no common variations in the okurigana for this word.

⚫︎要求 (youkyuu): Request, demand (more general) ⚫︎要求する (youkyuu suru): To request, to demand ⚫︎依頼 (irrai): Request, request for a favor ⚫︎求める (motomeru): To request, to seek ⚫︎催促 (saisoku): Urging, demand (for payment)

⚫︎支払い (shiharai): Payment ⚫︎支払う (shiharau): To pay ⚫︎弁済 (bensai): Payment, reimbursement ⚫︎放棄 (houki): Abandonment, waiver (of a claim)

私は彼に先月のサービスの料金の請求書を送りました。 ・Translation: I sent him an invoice for the service charges last month. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates the use of 請求 in the context of billing.

顧客は商品の品質について請求を提出した。 ・Translation: The customer submitted a claim regarding the quality of the product. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 請求 to refer to making a formal claim or complaint.

The word 請求 is a compound word. 請 (sei) means "to ask" or "to request," and 求 (kyuu) means "to seek" or "to demand." Combined, they create the meaning of formally asking for something, typically money or compensation.