要求 (yāo qiú) is a versatile word meaning both 'requirement' (noun) and 'to demand' or 'to require' (verb). The first character 要 (yāo) means 'to want' or 'to need', while 求 (qiú) means 'to seek' or 'to request'; together, they express the idea of insisting on something necessary or expected. As a noun, it often refers to official, formal, or essential conditions—such as job qualifications, safety standards, or medical criteria. As a verb, it carries a tone of authority or necessity, not casual preference.

This word appears frequently in professional, academic, and administrative contexts—like workplace policies, government notices, or healthcare guidelines. It’s more formal and weightier than words like 需要 (xūyào, 'to need') and implies an expectation that must be met. Learners should note that when used as a verb, it typically takes a direct object (e.g., 要求学生按时交作业), and its noun form often appears with classifiers like 一項 (yī xiàng) or adjectives like 嚴格的 (yángé de, 'strict').