需求 (xū qiú) is a noun meaning 'demand' or 'need' — especially in economic, social, or practical contexts. It combines 需 (xū), which means 'to need' or 'to require', and 求 (qiú), meaning 'to seek' or 'to request'. Together, they emphasize both the existence of a need and the active pursuit or expectation of fulfillment. Unlike the more personal or emotional word 需要 (xū yào), 需求 tends to be used in formal, objective, or systemic settings — such as business reports, policy discussions, or market analysis.

This term often appears in phrases like 市场需求 (shì chǎng xū qiú, 'market demand'), 社会需求 (shè huì xū qiú, 'social needs'), or 实际需求 (shí jì xū qiú, 'actual needs'). It frequently co-occurs with verbs like 满足 (mǎn zú, 'to satisfy'), 反映 (fǎn yìng, 'to reflect'), or 增加 (zēng jiā, 'to increase'). While it can refer to individual needs, it’s most commonly used collectively or abstractly — describing patterns across groups, industries, or systems rather than private feelings.