求める

What it means

What does 求める mean? It means to seek or request something from someone, or to express a desire or need for something to happen. It is a transitive verb used to indicate actively seeking an outcome, provision, or information, across concrete requests and abstract aims.

Main meanings

• to seek or request something from someone
• to desire or hope for something to happen, often with a goal or outcome in mind
• to require or demand something in a formal or official context

How to use it

Used in formal and written contexts as well as everyday speech, 求める takes a direct object marked with を to indicate what is being sought, or uses 助けを求める etc. It appears in phrases for requests, appeals, or expectations, and can pair with abstract nouns such as 真実, 改善, or 助け.