要 — Need
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Start 7-Day Free Trial →Visual Radical Families for 要 (Need)
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 要 (Need)
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Need (要) expressed as a verb, to need.
If it is certain (必) that you need (要) it, then it is absolutely necessary.
When you want to say only what you absolutely need (要) to say, you say, in short... this and that.
A heavy (重) need (要) for something means it is very important.
The master (主) need (要) above all other needs is the chief/main priority.
The point (点) you need (要) to understand is the gist of something.
Frequently Asked Questions About 要 (Need)
What is the best kanji mnemonic for 要 (Need)?
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The Shibashi Japanese kanji mnemonic for 要 ("Need", read as よう) is: Why do women love yoga (よう) retreats to Egypt (い)? Well, Canada-Men (かなめ) need to investigate... Using visual kanji mnemonics that combine the character's radicals, meaning, and reading into a single illustrated scene makes 要 effortless to recall.
What does the kanji 要 mean and how is it read in Japanese?
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The Japanese kanji 要 means "Need". Its primary reading is よう (On'yomi: よう; Kun'yomi: い, かなめ). 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 要?
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Essential Japanese vocabulary words containing 要 include: 要る (いる - to need), 必要 (ひつよう - necessary), 要するに (ようするに - in a word, after all, the point is .., in short ..), 重要 (じゅうよう - important, momentous, essential, principal, major).
How do Japanese kanji mnemonics help you remember 要 (Need) faster?
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Traditional rote stroke repetition fades quickly. Shibashi's Japanese kanji mnemonics turn 要 (Need) 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.