Recognise 必 in complete Japanese words. These examples show certainty and necessity in context.

The idea

必 has 5 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Compare 必ず（かならず） 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
必ずかならずI will definitely call tomorrow.
必要ひつようA reservation is necessary to participate.
必ずしもかならずしもThis is not necessarily correct.
必要なひつようなPlease bring the necessary documents.

Examples

  • 明日あしたは必かならず電話でんわします。I will definitely call tomorrow.
  • 参加さんかには予約よやくが必要ひつようです。A reservation is necessary to participate.
  • 出でかける前まえに必かならず窓まどを閉しめます。I always close the window before going out.
  • これは必かならずしも正ただしくありません。This is not necessarily correct.
  • 必要ひつような書類しょるいを持もってきてください。Please bring the necessary documents.
  • 水みずは生活せいかつに必要ひつようです。Water is necessary for life.

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

Watch out

必ず means “without fail”, but 必ずしも with a negative means “not necessarily”. 必要 is a な-adjective meaning “necessary”; it does not mean “certain”. Compare 必 with 心: a shared component does not make them interchangeable.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 必ず in hiragana.

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    かならず

    必ず is read かならず. In context: I will definitely call tomorrow.

  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 reservation is necessary to participate.

  3. Write this lesson’s kanji in the blank: ＿ず（かならず）.

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    必

    必 completes 必ず, read かならず. In context: I will definitely call tomorrow.

Use it today

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