求 meaning and stroke order
To seek; to look for; to request
How to write 求, stroke by stroke
7 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Meaning of 求
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to seek
- to look for
- to request
- to demand
- to beseech
How 求 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 氺 (), shared by 4 characters on this site.
How to remember 求
求 is built from 一 laid over 氺, a form of water 水. Picture someone with one hand stretched out across flowing water, reaching for something they badly want, which is the idea of seeking and begging for help.
求 (qiú) means to ask for, beg for, or seek, and it often sounds more earnest than 请 (qǐng). It appears in many common words like 要求 (yāoqiú) and 追求 (zhuīqiú). Example: 我求你帮帮我。(Wǒ qiú nǐ bāngbang wǒ.) I beg you to help me.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 求 with 球 (qiú, ball), which has the same sound but adds 王 on the left. Also remember the dot at the upper right of 求, which is easy to leave out.
Common words with 求
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 要求 | yāoqiú | to request; to require | HSK 2 |
| 请求 | qǐngqiú | to request; to ask; request (CL:個|个[ge4]) | HSK 2 |
| 需求 | xūqiú | requirement; to require | HSK 3 |
| 追求 | zhuīqiú | to pursue (a goal etc) stubbornly; to seek after | HSK 4 |
| 征求 | zhēngqiú | to solicit; to seek | HSK 4 |
| 寻求 | xúnqiú | to seek; to look for | HSK 5 |
| 求职 | qiúzhí | to seek employment | HSK 6 |
| 求婚 | qiúhūn | to propose marriage | HSK 7-9 |
| 求救 | qiújiù | to seek help (when in distress or having difficulties) | HSK 7-9 |
| 恳求 | kěnqiú | to beg; to beseech | HSK 7-9 |
| 求助 | qiúzhù | to request help; to appeal (for help) | HSK 7-9 |
| 乞求 | qǐqiú | to beg | HSK 7-9 |
| 哀求 | āiqiú | to entreat; to implore | HSK 7-9 |
| 谋求 | móuqiú | to seek; to strive for | HSK 7-9 |
求 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 求
Learning 求 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 求
How many strokes are in 求?
求 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 求 mean?
求 (qiú) means to seek; to look for; to request. A common word with it is 要求 (yāoqiú), meaning "to request; to require".
How do you pronounce 求?
求 is pronounced qiú, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 求?
The radical of 求 is 氺. Dictionaries list 求 under this radical.
Is 求 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 求 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 求 and 请 when asking for something?
请 (qǐng) is a polite, neutral request, like please or invite. 求 (qiú) is stronger and more pleading, so 求你 sounds like I beg you. In everyday polite requests, 请 is usually the safer choice.
Is 要求 a verb or a noun?
It can be both. 老师要求我们准时 (Lǎoshī yāoqiú wǒmen zhǔnshí) means the teacher requires us to be on time, and 这个要求很高 (zhège yāoqiú hěn gāo) means this requirement is high.