需要
じゅよう
juyou
This term is most commonly used in an economic context to describe the quantity of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to purchase at various prices. It is almost always paired with its counterpart, 供給 (kyōkyū - supply), to discuss market equilibrium.
In everyday conversation, the word has expanded to mean "need" or "desire" in a more general sense. When someone asks, "Is there any demand for this?" (これに需要はあるのか？), they are often questioning whether a specific feature, skill, or personality trait is actually wanted or valued by others.
There is a subtle pragmatic difference between using 需要 (juyō) and ニーズ (nīzu). While they are often interchangeable, 需要 sounds more objective and analytical, whereas ニーズ feels more focused on the specific desires or problems of a customer or user. In casual or internet slang, saying something has "no demand" (需要がない) can be a humorous or self-deprecating way to say that something is useless or that nobody is interested in it.
Meanings
The amount of a product or service that people want or need, or the state of being wanted.
需要がある。
There is a demand.
Examples
市場ではこの新製品に高い需要がある。
There is a high demand for this new product in the market.
供給が需要に追いつかなくて商品が不足している。
The supply cannot keep up with the demand, so the product is in short supply.
夏場は冷たい飲み物への需要が急激に高まる。
Demand for cold drinks increases sharply during the summer.
私のような地味な人間に需要があるとは思えない。
I cannot believe there is any demand for a plain person like me.