(ようけん)

ようけん
noun
requirement, condition, matter of business
formalbusiness
See also: 用件(ようけん) (business, matter)
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.
Please check the application requirements.
It does not meet the legal requirements.
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.
要件(ようけん)(なん)でしょう
What is your business? / How can I help you?
I conveyed just the business matter and hung up.
(いそ)要件(ようけん)ある手短(てみじか)(ねが)します。
I have an urgent matter, so please keep it brief.

Usage

Sense 1 (要件(ようけん) as requirement) is common in formal, legal, and technical writing. In IT, 要件(ようけん)定義(ていぎ) (requirements definition) is a standard project phase. Sense 2 (要件(ようけん) as business matter) is polite and often heard in business phone calls and office settings.

Common collocations

Similar words

用件(ようけん) (business, errand) is a homophone written with different kanji. 用件(ようけん) is exclusively sense 2 — the purpose of a call or visit. 条件(じょうけん) (condition, terms) is broader and less formal than 要件(ようけん) in the "requirement" sense.