必 — Certain
Tap any reading below to hear native Japanese pronunciation
Visual Radical Families for 必 (Certain)
These kanjis share the same recurring visual building block in Shibashi's Japanese kanji mnemonics. Tap any small tile to compare its story:
Common Japanese Words with 必 (Certain)
Tap any word below to hear native Japanese pronunciation and see how the constituent kanjis combine:

If it is certain (必) that you need (要) it, then it is absolutely necessary.
Certain (必) expressed as an adverb, certainly.
Even if something seems certain (必), it's not necessarily true.
Frequently Asked Questions About 必 (Certain)
What is the best kanji mnemonic for 必 (Certain)?
▼
The Shibashi Japanese kanji mnemonic for 必 ("Certain", read as ひつ) is: If a cupid arrow hits(u) (ひつ) your heart you will certainly fall in love. First date... vodka carbonara (かなら). Using visual kanji mnemonics that combine the character's radicals, meaning, and reading into a single illustrated scene makes 必 effortless to recall.
What does the kanji 必 mean and how is it read in Japanese?
▼
The Japanese kanji 必 means "Certain". Its primary reading is ひつ (On'yomi: ひつ; Kun'yomi: かなら). Our Japanese kanji mnemonics tie the reading directly into the visual story so you remember both the meaning and pronunciation together.
What are common Japanese words and compounds with 必?
▼
Essential Japanese vocabulary words containing 必 include: 必要 (ひつよう - necessary, needed, essential, indispensable), 必ず (かならず - certainly, necessarily), 必ずしも (かならずしも - (not) always, (not) necessarily, (not) all, (not) entirely).
How do Japanese kanji mnemonics help you remember 必 (Certain) faster?
▼
Traditional rote stroke repetition fades quickly. Shibashi's Japanese kanji mnemonics turn 必 (Certain) and its shared visual radical family into memorable characters and objects, paired with smart Spaced Repetition (SRS) and native audio so the memory sticks permanently.