demands
demands — 名詞
1. strong, firm requests that someone makes when they believe they have the right t
強烈要求
強硬提出、期望被接受的請求
strong, firm requests that someone makes when they believe they have the right to receive something, often expecting an answer or action.
The protesters delivered a list of demands to the mayor's office on Friday.
抗議者週五向市長辦公室遞交了一份要求清單。
demands + for / list of demands
Heloísa refused to give in to her brother's constant demands for money.
Heloísa 拒絕一再屈服於弟弟要錢的強烈要求。
give in to + demands; demands for [noun]
Workers at the factory have made several demands, including longer breaks and safer machines.
工廠的工人提出了好幾項要求，包括較長的休息時間和較安全的機具。
Vikram ignored the kidnappers' demands and called the police instead.
Vikram 沒有理會綁匪的要求，反而報了警。
The union's demands that the company raise wages by ten percent were finally accepted.
工會要求公司加薪百分之十的訴求，最後獲得了接受。
- offers
what someone gives, rather than what someone insists on receiving
文法句型
demands for [noun]
demands that [clause]
make demands
用法筆記
Frequently appears in fixed patterns: 'meet someone's demands', 'give in to demands', 'make demands on someone'. The 'for'-phrase names what is being asked for; the 'on'-phrase names who is being asked.
常見錯誤
2. the hard tasks, duties, or pressures that a job, role, or situation places on so
負擔；壓力
工作或角色帶來的辛苦付出
the hard tasks, duties, or pressures that a job, role, or situation places on someone, requiring their time and energy.
Selim found the demands of medical school harder than he had imagined.
Selim 覺得醫學院的課業負擔比他原本想像的還要重。
the demands of + [activity/role]
The demands on a single parent are huge, from cooking meals to helping with homework.
單親家長要承擔的壓力很大，從煮飯到指導功課都得自己來。
demands on + [person]
Ayana left her old company because the daily demands had left her too tired to enjoy weekends.
Ayana 離開了舊公司，因為每天的工作壓力讓她週末累得沒辦法好好放鬆。
Nursing the elderly has both physical and emotional demands that few outsiders see.
照顧年長者的工作有身體上和情緒上的負擔，很少有外人能體會。
The coach warned the new players about the demands of training six days a week.
教練向新球員說明每週訓練六天會帶來的辛苦。
- pressures
emphasises the strain rather than the specific tasks
- requirements
more neutral; lists what must be done without the strain
- burdens
stronger negative tone; suggests the weight is too heavy
- rewards
the gains a role gives back, balanced against its demands
文法句型
the demands of [noun]
demands on [person]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: here no person is making a request — the difficulty itself arises from the situation. Subject is typically a job, role, or activity ('the demands of teaching'), not a person.
常見錯誤
3. the wishes that buyers have to purchase certain goods or services, together with
需求
買家願意並有能力購買的程度
the wishes that buyers have to purchase certain goods or services, together with their ability to pay for them at the current price.
Demands for electric cars have grown sharply across European cities in the last five years.
過去五年來，歐洲各城市對電動車的需求大幅成長。
demands for + [product]
When ice cream demands peak in July, the small dairy in Owen's village runs day and night.
每年七月冰淇淋的需求達到高峰，Owen 村裡那家小乳品廠日夜趕工。
demands + peak / seasonal demands
Rodrigo's bakery raised prices once demands for sourdough bread doubled.
Rodrigo 的烘焙坊在酸種麵包需求翻倍之後就調漲了價格。
The factory cannot meet current demands, so customers are waiting six weeks for delivery.
工廠目前的需求應接不暇，客戶得等六個禮拜才能拿到貨。
Travel demands fell across Asia during the months of strict border controls.
在嚴格邊境管制的那幾個月，亞洲各地的旅遊需求都下滑了。
- supply
the amount sellers offer; the natural opposite in economic discussion
文法句型
supply and demand
demand for [product]
in high/low demand
用法筆記
In economic writing the term is usually singular and uncountable ('demand for housing'), but the plural 'demands' appears in everyday contexts referring to varied buyer wants across categories. Often paired with 'supply' in the fixed phrase 'supply and demand'.
常見錯誤
4. the state of being looked for or wanted by many people, often because the person
搶手；熱門
因為好或稀少而很多人在找
the state of being looked for or wanted by many people, often because the person or thing is good, useful, or rare.
Skilled nurses are in great demand at hospitals all across the country.
全國各地的醫院都非常需要有經驗的護理師。
be in (great / high) demand
After winning the prize, Xiu found that her paintings were suddenly in high demand.
得獎之後，Xiu 發現自己的畫作突然變得非常搶手。
in high demand
Plumbers who can fix old pipes remain in steady demand in rural areas.
會修舊水管的水電工在鄉下地區一直都很搶手。
Wedding photographers are in demand every spring weekend in Taipei.
每年春天的週末，台北的婚禮攝影師都炙手可熱。
Hugo's translation services are in demand because so few people speak both Portuguese and Korean well.
Hugo 的翻譯服務很搶手，因為很少有人能同時把葡萄牙文和韓文說得這麼好。
- popularity
everyday tone; covers fame as well as being sought after
- sought-after
as an adjective; suggests quality or rarity drives the wanting
- neglected
no one looks for or wants this thing
文法句型
be in demand
in high / great demand
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'in (high/great/steady) demand'. Subject is the thing or person being sought, not the seeker. Distinguish from sense 3: sense 4 names the state of being wanted; sense 3 names the desire itself.
常見錯誤
demands — 動詞
1. to ask for something in a strong, forceful way, as if the speaker has the right
要求；索討
態度強硬地索取或主張
to ask for something in a strong, forceful way, as if the speaker has the right to get it and will not accept being refused.
Amihan demands an apology whenever her younger brother breaks one of her toys.
每次弟弟弄壞 Amihan 的玩具，她都會強烈要求對方道歉。
demand + noun (apology / explanation)
The angry customer demands that the manager refund his money right away.
那位生氣的客人要求經理立刻把錢退給他。
demand + that-clause (subjunctive)
Striking workers demand a pay rise of at least five percent before they will return.
罷工的工人要求至少加薪百分之五，才願意回去上班。
Hyun demands to see the chef every time his soup arrives cold.
每次湯端上來是冷的，Hyun 就會要求見到主廚。
Lawyers for the family demand full access to the hospital records.
家屬的律師要求完整查閱醫院的病歷。
- request
polite and tentative; the opposite tone of 'demand'
文法句型
demand + noun
demand + that-clause
demand + to-infinitive
用法筆記
After 'demand that', the verb in the clause stays in the bare form ('that he leave', not 'that he leaves') — this is the mandative subjunctive. Stronger than 'ask'; speakers expect compliance rather than a polite reply.
常見錯誤
2. to need something such as effort, time, or skill in order to be done well, becau
需要；耗費
工作本身要花的力氣或時間
to need something such as effort, time, or skill in order to be done well, because the task itself is hard or important.
Climbing this mountain demands strong legs and a good pair of boots.
爬這座山需要強壯的雙腿和一雙好穿的靴子。
[task] demands + [resource]
Caring for a newborn baby demands patience that even Léa did not expect.
照顧新生兒需要的耐心，就連 Léa 也沒有預料到。
This recipe demands two hours of careful stirring over a low flame.
這道食譜需要在小火上仔細攪拌兩個小時。
Diplomatic talks of this kind demand patience and the ability to listen.
這類外交談判需要耐心，也需要懂得傾聽。
Building a strong bridge demands skill, careful planning, and the right materials.
蓋一座堅固的橋需要技術、周密的規劃，還要選對材料。
文法句型
[task] demands [effort/skill/time]
用法筆記
Subject is the task or activity, not a person — distinguishes this sense from sense 1 (where a person makes the demand). Often used with abstract objects: 'demand patience', 'demand time', 'demand skill'.
常見錯誤
3. to ask someone strongly to tell you something, often when the speaker is angry,
盤問；質問
以強硬語氣要對方說明
to ask someone strongly to tell you something, often when the speaker is angry, suspicious, or in a position of authority.
'Where were you last night?' Yael demanded as Ari walked through the door.
「你昨晚到底去了哪裡？」Yael 在 Ari 一進門就質問他。
'[direct speech]' + demanded
Reporters demanded to know why the bridge had not been repaired for so many years.
記者們質問為什麼這座橋過了這麼多年都沒有修。
demand + to know + wh-clause
The judge demanded an explanation for the missing documents from the lawyer.
法官要那位律師說明文件為什麼會不見。
Nala's mother demanded to be told the truth about the broken vase.
Nala 的媽媽要求一定要把花瓶被打破的真相講清楚。
Evelyn demanded to know what the strangers were doing in her father's garden.
Evelyn 要對方說清楚那些陌生人在她父親的花園裡到底在做什麼。
- interrogate
much stronger; formal or police register
- press
as in 'pressed him for an answer'; persistent rather than angry
- ask sharply
everyday paraphrase of the sharp tone
- wonder
private, quiet, not addressed to anyone
文法句型
demand + wh-clause
demand to know
'X?' he demanded
用法筆記
Use this sense when the headword introduces a question or request for information. Often appears as 'demand to know' or 'demand an explanation'. Direct-speech reporting tag ('she demanded') signals stronger tone than 'she asked'.
常見錯誤
4. to officially order someone, especially through legal or official channels, to c
傳喚；召喚
以官方命令要求對方到場
to officially order someone, especially through legal or official channels, to come to a particular place such as a court.
The court demanded Sirin's presence as a witness in the trial on Monday morning.
法院傳喚 Sirin 在週一上午以證人身分出庭。
demand + someone's presence
The tribunal demanded Hamza's appearance before the city council to explain the missing funds.
法庭傳喚 Hamza 到市議會出庭，說明那筆遺失款項的去向。
demand + [person's] appearance
The general demanded that all officers present themselves at headquarters by sunrise.
將軍下令所有軍官在天亮之前必須到總部集合。
The investigating judge demanded the company's records be brought to her office.
偵查法官要求把公司的帳冊送到她的辦公室。
- dismiss
officially send someone away rather than call them in
文法句型
demand someone's presence
demand that [person] appear
用法筆記
Formal and largely confined to legal, military, or official contexts. Sense 1 is the broad insistence; sense 4 narrows to an official summons backed by authority. In modern English the verb 'summon' is more common in this slot.
常見錯誤
demands — 慣用語
1. the hard tasks or pressures that come with a particular activity, role, or way o
繁重職責
某項活動或角色帶來的辛苦負擔
the hard tasks or pressures that come with a particular activity, role, or way of life, used as a fixed plural in the form 'the demands of X'.
Christopher gave up the violin because the demands of practice were eating his weekends.
Christopher 放棄了小提琴，因為練琴的繁重負擔幾乎吃掉了他所有的週末。
the demands of + [activity]
The demands of running a small farm leave Gabriel little time for hobbies.
經營一座小農場的繁重職責讓 Gabriel 幾乎沒時間發展興趣。
Ravindra struggled with the demands of his first year as a junior doctor.
Ravindra 在實習醫師第一年掙扎於工作的種種繁重負擔。
Élise often forgets meals when the demands of teaching pile up at the end of term.
每到學期末，教學上的繁重職責堆積起來，Élise 常常連飯都忘了吃。
- the rigours of
more formal; same shape ('the rigours of training')
- the pressures of
near-synonym; emphasises the strain
文法句型
the demands of [activity/role]
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun sense 2: this idiom-like fixed phrase is almost always written 'the demands of [X]' with a definite article and a following 'of'-phrase. Noun sense 2 covers the broader pattern (which also accepts 'demands on someone').