1.
requirement, necessary condition, prerequisite
A condition that must be met or a qualification that is necessary. Commonly used in legal, business, and technical contexts.
応募要件を確認してください。
Please check the application requirements.
法律の要件を満たしていない。
It does not meet the legal requirements.
システムの要件定義を行う。
We will carry out the system requirements definition.
2.
matter of business, purpose of a visit or call
The reason or business purpose for contacting or visiting someone. A polite way to ask what someone needs.
ご要件は何でしょうか。
What is your business? / How can I help you?
要件だけ伝えて電話を切った。
I conveyed just the business matter and hung up.
急ぎの要件があるので、手短にお願いします。
I have an urgent matter, so please keep it brief.
USAGE:
Sense 1 (要件 as requirement) is common in formal, legal, and technical writing. In IT, 要件定義 (requirements definition) is a standard project phase. Sense 2 (要件 as business matter) is polite and often heard in business phone calls and office settings.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 要件を満たす: to meet requirements
- 要件定義: requirements definition
- 応募要件: application requirements
- ご要件は: what is your business (polite)
- 必須要件: mandatory requirement
SIMILAR WORDS:
用件 (business, errand) is a homophone written with different kanji. 用件 is exclusively sense 2 — the purpose of a call or visit. 条件 (condition, terms) is broader and less formal than 要件 in the "requirement" sense.