Recognise 要 in complete Japanese words. These examples show need and importance in context.

The idea

要 has 9 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Compare 要る（いる） with 必要（ひつよう）: learn readings with whole words. N3 is an editorial estimate, not an official JLPT kanji list.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
要るいるDo you need a bag?
必要ひつようA ticket is necessary to participate.
重要じゅうようI read an important notice.
必要なひつようなI collect the necessary information.

Examples

  • 袋ふくろは要いりますか。Do you need a bag?
  • 参加さんかにはチケットが必要ひつようです。A ticket is necessary to participate.
  • 重要じゅうような知しらせを読よみます。I read an important notice.
  • この仕事しごとには時間じかんが要いります。This work takes time.
  • 必要ひつような情報じょうほうを集あつめます。I collect the necessary information.
  • 今日きょうはパスポートが要いりません。You do not need a passport today.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

要る（いる） means “need”; 居る（いる） means an animate being is present. They sound alike but have different meanings. 必要 is a な-adjective, as in 必要な書類. Compare 要 with 腰: a shared component does not make them interchangeable.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 要る in hiragana.

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    いる

    要る is read いる. In context: Do you need a bag?

  2. Write the reading of 必要 in hiragana.

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    ひつよう

    必要 is read ひつよう. In context: A ticket is necessary to participate.

  3. Write this lesson’s kanji in the blank: ＿る（いる）.

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    要

    要 completes 要る, read いる. In context: Do you need a bag?

Use it today

Cover the table, write 要 from memory, and read 要る and 必要 aloud. Then check the examples and make a sentence of your own.