JLPT N3 · 9 strokes
Kanji 要: "need, main point, essence"
The kanji 要 means "need, main point, essence, pivot, key to". It is written with 9 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N3, read ヨウ in on'yomi and い.る, かなめ in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
ヨウ
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
い.るかなめ
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | need, main point, essence, pivot, key to |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT level | N3 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 4 |
| Frequency rank | 106 of 2,501 |
Common words with 要
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 必要necessary; needed; essential; indispensable · necessity; need; requirement
- 要るto be needed; to be necessary; to be required; to be wanted
- 重要important; essential; significant; major
- 要求demand; firm request; requisition; requirement
- 必要ないinutile, pas nécessaire, pas la peine
- 要素component; factor; item (e.g. in list) · element (e.g. in array); member (e.g. data structure)
- 必要とするavoir besoin de, nécessiter, exiger
- 要するにin short; in a word; to sum up; to put it simply
- 要請appeal; call for something; request; claim · axiom
- 不要unnecessary; unneeded
- 要はin short; the point is; the important thing is; in a word
- 要望demand for; request
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