Translation guide
The English verb "require" covers needs, obligations, and formal demands. In Japanese, the best choice depends on whether you mean something is necessary, a rule or condition demands it, or someone formally requests it.
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Expressing that something is needed or necessary, often in a general or personal sense.
Literally 'to make necessary'. Used when a person, thing, or situation needs something. Common in both spoken and written Japanese.
This job requires experience.
Plants require sunlight.
The most common everyday word for 'need'. Used for concrete things. Intransitive, so the needed thing is marked with が.
An adjective meaning 'is necessary'. Often used in the pattern ～が必要だ.
Success requires effort.
Pattern using the verb 要る. The thing needed is marked with が.
This dish requires special ingredients.
Expressing that a rule, law, or situation demands something, often with a sense of compulsion.
Standard pattern for 'must' or 'have to'. Used for obligations imposed by rules or circumstances.
In this country, you are required to get a license to drive a car.
You are required to be quiet in the library.
Literally 'there is a necessity to'. Slightly more formal and objective than ～なければならない.
We are required to solve this problem.
To make something mandatory, to obligate. Often used in legal or official contexts.
Formal, often written word meaning 'to require' or 'to need'. Used in official documents.
Expressing that someone in authority formally asks or demands something.
To demand, to request firmly. Used when someone with authority or a strong position asks for something.
The workers demanded a pay raise. (They required a raise.)
The police required him to show his passport.
To seek, to ask for, to demand. Can be softer than 要求する, but also used in formal contexts.
To order, to command. Stronger than 'require', used when someone in authority gives an order.
必要 (necessity) is a noun/adjective and sounds more formal or abstract. 要る is a verb used for concrete, everyday needs. 必要 is often used in the pattern ～が必要だ, while 要る is used as ～が要る.
English 'require' is often used in passive constructions like 'is required to'. Japanese does not use a direct passive equivalent naturally. Instead, use patterns like ～なければならない or ～必要がある.
This document requires a seal.
I need more time. (More time is required.)
You are required to sign the contract.
The law requires companies to disclose information.
この手続きには時間を要する。
This procedure requires time.
会社は従業員に高い能力を求める。
The company requires high ability from its employees.
裁判所は彼に出頭を命じた。
The court required him to appear.