How to Say "Require" in Chinese

需要

xūyào

To require in Chinese is expressed as 需要 (xūyào).

The word 需要 is used to express the act of needing or requiring something. It can be used in a general sense to describe a necessity or a requirement.

Meaning: to need (verb)

Which one should you use?

While 需要 covers the general sense of needing or requiring, if you are talking about formal or legal requirements, it is more appropriate to use 要求.

In a sentence, 需要 can function as both a verb meaning 'to need' or 'to require' and as a noun meaning 'need' or 'requirement'.

xūyào

The character 需 originally depicted rain falling on a field, representing the 'need' for water during a drought.
Using 不需要 to decline a gift or a service functions as a polite social buffer by focusing on the lack of necessity rather than a dislike of the object.
In Chinese economic theory, the word 需要 is the root of the term for 'demand' in 'supply and demand', known as 供给与需求. Here, the noun form of 'require' defines the entire market force.

我需要一個蘋果。
I require an apple.
This sentence is useful for seeing 需要 used with a simple object.
Tatoeba #2135493 by egg0073, translation #2184771 by FeuDRenais2
老龄化的人口需要更多医疗保健支出。
An aging population will require more spending on health care.
This sentence demonstrates the use of 需要 in the context of economic or social requirements.
Tatoeba #5691262 by verdastelo9604, translation #326476 by CM
我需要你的帮助。
I require your assistance.
我们要求所有员工按时到达。
We require all employees to arrive on time.
我得买些食品。
I need to buy some groceries.
3 more sentences on Tatoeba

Zihan and Haoran are preparing for a trip together.

梓涵 Zihan

这次旅行我们需要带地图吗？
Zhè cì lǚxíng wǒmen xūyào dài dìtú ma?
Do we need to bring a map for this trip?
浩然 Haoran

不需要，手机上有导航。
Bù xūyào, shǒujī shàng yǒu dǎoháng.
No need, there is navigation on the phone.
梓涵 Zihan

那你还需要我带什么吗？
Nà nǐ hái xūyào wǒ dài shénme ma?
Then do you need me to bring anything else?
浩然 Haoran

你帮我带瓶水就行。
Nǐ bāng wǒ dài píng shuǐ jiù xíng.
Just bring a bottle of water for me.

Sources

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