索取 (suǒ qǔ) is a formal, written verb meaning 'to demand' or 'to request'—often with an implication of entitlement, authority, or official procedure. The character 索 means 'to search for' or 'to seek', while 取 means 'to take' or 'to obtain'; together, they convey the sense of actively seeking and taking something that one believes is due or required. It’s commonly used in administrative, legal, business, or service-related contexts—not in casual conversation.

This word carries a slightly assertive or procedural tone; it implies the speaker expects compliance, not just a polite ask. You’ll see it on official forms ('Please request your receipt here'), in customer service scenarios ('The client demanded a refund'), or in news reports ('The agency requested documents from the company'). It rarely appears in spoken Mandarin among friends or family, where words like 要 (yào) or 请 (qǐng) are more natural.