Translation and Meaning of: 必要 - hitsuyou

The Japanese word 「必要」 (hitsuyou) is a combination of two distinct kanji: 「必」 and 「要」. The etymology reveals that 「必」 (hitsu) means "inevitable" or "necessary", while 「要」 (you) means "precise" or "to require". Together, these words form a term that expresses the idea of something that is necessary or essential. The use of this word dates back to ancient eras, highlighting the importance of concepts of necessity and essentiality in various everyday situations in Japanese culture.

In the Japanese language, 「必要」 is widely used to express the need or importance of something. For example, it can refer to the importance of certain tasks at work, or the necessity of items on a daily shopping list. The word encompasses both tangible aspects, such as material objects, and intangible ones, such as skills or knowledge essential for personal and professional development.

Furthermore, variations of this word, such as the adjectives 「必要な」 (hitsuyou na) and the adverbial expressions 「必要以上に」 (hitsuyou ijou ni), are often used to describe situations or needs in specific contexts. The first refers to something that is necessary, while the second describes an action that goes beyond what is necessary. These nuances demonstrate the flexibility and relevance of the word within the Japanese language, revealing its importance not only in the language but also in how cultural values of practicality and efficiency are articulated in daily social interactions.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 必要 (Hitsuyou) - Necessary; something that is essential.
• 必需 (Hitsuju) - Essential; something that cannot be dispensed with.
• 必要性 (Hitsuyousei) - Need; the quality of being necessary.
• 必要条件 (Hitsuyoujouken) - Necessary conditions; requirements that must be met.
• 必要とする (Hitsuyou to suru) - To need; to be in a condition of requiring something.
• 必要量 (Hitsuyouryou) - Necessary quantity; the measure that is essential.

必要

Romaji: hitsuyou
Kana: ひつよう
Type: Noun, adjective
L: jlpt-n4

Translation / Meaning: necessary; essential; indispensable

Meaning in English: necessary;essential;indispensable

Definition: Necessary - Something that must be, something that is essential.

Example Sentences - (必要) hitsuyou

See below some example sentences:

私は彼女を呼び出す必要があります。

Watashi wa kanojo o yobidasu hitsuyō ga arimasu

I need to call her.

I need to call her.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 彼女 (kanojo) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "she"
• を (wo) - direct object particle that indicates the object of the action, in this case "her"
• 呼び出す (yobidasu) - Japanese verb that means "to call"
• 必要 (hitsuyou) - Japanese adjective meaning "necessary"
• が (ga) - subject particle indicating the subject of the action, in this case "I"
• あります (arimasu) - Japanese verb that means "have", used to indicate the existence of something

私は小遣いを節約する必要があります。

Watashi wa kozukai o setsuyaku suru hitsuyō ga arimasu

I need to save my pocket money.

I need to save pocket money.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle indicating the subject of the sentence
• 小遣い (kodzukai) - Japanese noun meaning "allowance" or "pocket money"
• を (wo) - Japanese object particle indicating the direct object of the action
• 節約する (setsuyaku suru) - Japanese verb meaning "to save"
• 必要があります (hitsuyou ga arimasu) - Japanese expression meaning "it is necessary"

私は食べ物を控える必要があります。

Watashi wa tabemono o hikaeru hitsuyō ga arimasu

I need to abstain from eating.

I need to abstain from food.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 食べ物 (tabemono) - Japanese noun meaning "food"
• を (wo) - direct object particle indicating the object of the action
• 控える (hikaeru) - Japanese verb that means "to abstain" or "to restrict oneself."
• 必要 (hitsuyou) - Japanese adjective meaning "necessary"
• が (ga) - subject particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• あります (arimasu) - Japanese verb that means "to exist" or "there is"

私は計画を見直す必要があると思います。

Watashi wa keikaku wo minaosu hitsuyou ga aru to omoimasu

I think I need to review my plan.

I think I need to review the plan.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 計画 (keikaku) - Japanese noun meaning "plan"
• を (wo) - object particle indicating the direct object of the action
• 見直す (minaosu) - Japanese verb meaning "to review" or "reconsider"
• 必要 (hitsuyou) - Japanese adjective meaning "necessary"
• が (ga) - subject particle that indicates who performs the action
• ある (aru) - Japanese verb that means "to exist"
• と (to) - quotation particle that indicates what was thought or said
• 思います (omoimasu) - Japanese verb that means "to think" or "to believe"

私は今すぐ出る必要があります。

Watashi wa ima sugu deru hitsuyou ga arimasu

I need to leave right now.

I need to leave now.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 今 (ima) - adverb meaning "now"
• すぐ (sugu) - adverb meaning "immediately"
• 出る (deru) - verb meaning "to leave"
• 必要 (hitsuyou) - noun meaning "need"
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• あります (arimasu) - verb that means "to have", in this case "I have"

私は自分自身を篭って考える時間が必要です。

Watashi wa jibun jishin o komotte kangaeru jikan ga hitsuyōdesu

I need time to collect myself and think.

I need time to think and think about myself.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 自分自身 (jibun jishin) - expression meaning "oneself"
• を (wo) - direct object particle that indicates the target of the action
• 篭って (kagotte) - gerund verb meaning "to be isolated"
• 考える (kangaeru) - verb meaning "to think"
• 時間 (jikan) - noun meaning "time"
• が (ga) - subject particle that indicates who performs the action
• 必要 (hitsuyou) - adjective meaning "necessary"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the present tense and formality

私はこの問題を調べる必要があります。

Watashi wa kono mondai o shiraberu hitsuyō ga arimasu

I need to investigate this problem.

I need to figure this problem out.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• この (kono) - Japanese demonstrative adjective meaning "this"
• 問題 (mondai) - Japanese noun that means "problem"
• を (wo) - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 調べる (shiraberu) - Japanese verb that means "to investigate" or "to research."
• 必要 (hitsuyou) - Japanese noun that means "necessity" or "essential"
• が (ga) - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• あります (arimasu) - Japanese verb that means "to exist" or "there is"

私は貯金からお金を引き出す必要があります。

Watashi wa chokin kara okane o hikidasu hitsuyō ga arimasu

I need to withdraw money from my savings.

I need to withdraw money from the economy.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 貯金 (chokin) - 日本語の名詞で「貯金」を意味します。
• から (kara) - Japanese particle that means "of"
• お金 (okane) - Japanese noun that means "money"
• を (wo) - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 引き出す (hikidasu) - Japanese verb that means "to withdraw."
• 必要 (hitsuyou) - Japanese adjective meaning "necessary"
• が (ga) - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• あります (arimasu) - Japanese verb that means "to exist"

私はお金の遣い方を学ぶ必要がある。

Watashi wa okane no tsukai kata o manabu hitsuyō ga aru

I need to learn the way to use money.

I need to learn how to spend money.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• お金 (okane) - noun meaning "money"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two words
• 遣い方 (tsukaikata) - noun that means "way of using/spending"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 学ぶ (manabu) - verb that means "to learn"
• 必要 (hitsuyou) - adjective meaning "necessary"
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• ある (aru) - verb that means "to exist/to be present"

私は眼鏡を掛ける必要があります。

Watashi wa megane wo kakeru hitsuyou ga arimasu

I need to wear glasses.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 眼鏡 (megane) - glasses
• を (wo) - direct object particle that indicates the object of the action, in this case "glasses"
• 掛ける (kakeru) - verb that means "to put on" or "to wear" in the context of glasses
• 必要 (hitsuyou) - adjective meaning "necessary" or "essential"
• が (ga) - subject particle indicating the subject of the action, in this case "I"
• あります (arimasu) - verb that means "to have" or "to exist" in the sense of possessing something