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Kotomora

求

request, want, wish for, require, demand

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 4FrequencyTop 500Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • キュウ
  • グ

Kun'yomi

  • もと.める

Meaning

求 centers on actively seeking something you lack: making a request, wanting, wishing for, requiring, or demanding it.

Most common words using 求

20 of 167
  • 求めるもとめる
    N3

    to want; to wish for

  • 要求ようきゅう
    N3

    demand; firm request; requisition; requirement; desire

  • 請求せいきゅう
    N3

    claim; demand; charge; application; request; billing (for a service)

  • 求人きゅうじん
    N2

    recruiting; job offer; job vacancy

  • 欲求よっきゅう
    N1

    desire; want; will; wish; urge; craving

  • 追求ついきゅう
    N1

    pursuit (of a goal, ideal, etc.); search; chase; seeking after

  • 探求たんきゅう

    search; quest; pursuit

  • 求婚きゅうこん

    marriage proposal; courtship

  • 求むもとむ

    to want; to wish for

  • 求職きゅうしょく

    job hunting; seeking employment

  • 求愛きゅうあい

    courting; wooing; making advances

  • 訴求そきゅう

    appeal (to customers); solicitation (of business); rousing consumer interest (in a product)

  • 求刑きゅうけい

    recommended sentence; prosecution's demand for punishment

  • 追い求めるおいもとめる

    to pursue

  • 求心力きゅうしんりょく

    centripetal force

  • 希求ききゅう

    longing; strong desire; aspiration

  • 求道きゅうどう

    seeking after truth

  • 探し求めるさがしもとめる

    to search for; to seek for; to look for

  • 求心きゅうしん

    centripetal

  • 求肥ぎゅうひ

    gyūhi; soft Japanese confectionery made with rice flour, somewhat similar to Turkish delight

Explore all words using 求 →

Study

Etymology

求 originally depicted a fur coat, but it was borrowed early to represent seeking or requesting. The modern form no longer shows the coat image clearly.

Meaning mnemonic

The shape looks like a hand reaching out for something: the top horizontal stroke is the arm, the vertical stroke with branches is the hand and fingers, and the small dot is the desired object. 求 is reaching out to request or want something.

Reading mnemonic

For キュウ, imagine a cute puppy begging with its paw outstretched, wanting a treat: cute -> キュウ, and the puppy is requesting something.