需 meaning and stroke order
To require; to need; to want
How to write 需, stroke by stroke
14 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 需
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to require
- to need
- to want
- necessity
- need
How 需 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Rain 雨 needed for crops to grow.
Radical: 雨 (rain), shared by 42 characters on this site.
How to remember 需
需 has rain 雨 (yǔ) on top and 而 (ér) below. Picture crops waiting under the sky, because what fields need most is rain.
需 rarely stands alone in everyday speech. It usually appears in words like 需要 (xūyào, to need) and 需求 (xūqiú, demand). Example: 我需要你的帮助。(Wǒ xūyào nǐ de bāngzhù.) I need your help.
Common mistake: Learners often write 必需 (bìxū, to need, essential) when they mean 必须 (bìxū, must). Both are pronounced the same. Use 必须 before a verb, as in 你必须去 (you must go). Use 必需 for things that are needed, as in 必需品 (necessities).
Common words with 需
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 需要 | xūyào | to need; to want; to demand; to require; needs | HSK 3 |
| 需求 | xūqiú | requirement; to require | HSK 3 |
| 必需 | bìxū | to need; to require | HSK 5 |
| 急需 | jíxū | to urgently need; urgent need | HSK 7-9 |
| 内需 | nèixū | domestic demand | HSK 7-9 |
| 无需 | wúxū | needless | |
| 必需品 | bìxūpǐn | necessity; essential (thing) | |
| 不时之需 | bùshízhīxū | a possible period of want or need |
需 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 需
Learning 需 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 需
How many strokes are in 需?
需 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 需 mean?
需 (xū) means to require; to need; to want. A common word with it is 需要 (xūyào), meaning "to need; to want; to demand; to require; needs".
How do you pronounce 需?
需 is pronounced xū, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 需?
The radical of 需 is 雨, which carries the idea of "rain". Dictionaries list 需 under this radical.
Is 需 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 需 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 需要 and 要?
要 (yào) is more casual and can mean want, need, or will. 需要 (xūyào) focuses on real need and sounds more neutral or formal. It can also work as a noun meaning needs.
Can 需 be used by itself as a verb?
Yes, but mostly in written or formal Chinese, such as notices like 需提前预约 (xū tíqián yùyuē, advance booking required). In casual speech people say 需要 instead.