要求

Use 要求 when you need something done. Or when you need someone to meet a certain standard. Think about a boss giving an assignment. They 要求 you finish it by Friday. Or a teacher 要求 homework be neat. You can also use it for personal standards. Like 要求 yourself to exercise daily. Or 要求 your partner be honest. It's versatile. Just remember it’s stronger than asking nicely. It implies a level of obligation. Or a non-negotiable condition.

Imagine your roommate leaves dishes everywhere. You might say, 'I 要求 you clean up after yourself.' That's a clear demand. Or a company might have strict 要求 for job applicants. Like needing a degree. Or years of experience. Even in a game, a player might 要求 a certain strategy. 'I 要求 we attack from the left!' It’s everywhere.

Use 要求 when there's a specific need. When a rule or condition exists. When you're setting expectations. For tasks that must be completed. For qualities that are essential. For standards that are important. Think of official rules. Or important personal principles. If it's a must-have, 要求 fits well. It's good for formal settings too. Like a contract. Or a job description.

Don't use 要求 for casual favors. Asking a friend to grab coffee isn't a 要求. It’s a 邀请 (yāoqǐng) - invitation. Or a simple 请 (qǐng) - please. Using 要求 here sounds demanding. Or even rude. It's like asking for the moon. When you just want a cup of tea. Avoid it for suggestions too. 'Maybe we could try this?' is not a 要求. It’s a 建议 (jiànyì). Don't make your requests sound like ultimatums. Unless you mean them to be!

Learners often use 要求 too casually. Or they use it in situations that are too informal. It can sound aggressive. For example, asking a friend to go to the movies. You wouldn't say, 'I 要求 we watch that new sci-fi film!' That sounds like you're forcing them. A better way is '我想看那部科幻电影' (Wǒ xiǎng kàn nà bù kēhuàn diànyǐng) - I want to watch that sci-fi movie. Or '我们去看那部科幻电影吧？' (Wǒmen qù kàn nà bù kēhuàn diànyǐng ba?) - Shall we go watch that sci-fi movie?

Let's look at some specific errors:

This sounds like you're ordering them around. The corrected version is softer. It expresses a desire. Not a command.

While technically possible, 要求 here implies the job *sets* high standards. 难度 (nándù) - difficulty - is more direct for describing the job itself. It avoids sounding like the job is making demands.

There are other ways to ask for things. 请 (qǐng) is 'please'. It's polite. 希望 (xīwàng) means 'hope'. It's less direct. 需要 (xūyào) means 'need'. It states a necessity. 恳请 (kěnqǐng) is a very formal 'request'. 提议 (tíyì) is a proposal. 要求 sits in the middle. It's stronger than 请. But less formal than 恳请. It's more direct than 希望.

Sometimes you'll see 要求 combined with other words. 要求书 (yāoqiúshū) is a written demand. Like a list of demands. 要求者 (yāoqiúzhě) is the person making the demand. 要求性 (yāoqiúxìng) means 'demanding' or 'requiring'. Like a demanding job. 要求 can also be used as a verb. 'I 要求 this.' Or as a noun. 'There are many 要求.'