Meaning of 需要
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to need; to want; to demand; to require
- needs
How to use 需要
需要 works as a verb followed by a noun or another verb, and it can also be a noun meaning "needs." It sounds a little more neutral and formal than plain 要. Example: 我需要你的帮助。(Wǒ xūyào nǐ de bāngzhù.) I need your help.
需 (xū) means to need, and 要 (yào) means to want. Put "need" and "want" together and you get 需要, a word for something you really require.
Common mistake: Learners often write 需 with 雨 on top confused with 雷 or 雪, or forget the 而 at the bottom. Another trap is mixing up 需要 with 要求 (yāoqiú): 需要 is what you need, while 要求 is what you ask someone else to do.
需要 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
需 xū · to require · 14 strokes
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要 yào · to want · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 需要.
| 重要 | zhòngyào | important; significant; major |
| 不要 | bùyào | don't!; must not |
| 只要 | zhǐyào | so long as; provided; if |
| 就要 | jiùyào | will; shall |
| 要求 | yāoqiú | to request; to require |
| 主要 | zhǔyào | main; principal; major; primary |
| 快要 | kuàiyào | nearly at the point of (doing sth); about to (do sth) |
| 要是 | yàoshi | (coll.) if |
| 必要 | bìyào | necessary; essential |
| 需求 | xūqiú | requirement; to require |
| 不要紧 | bùyàojǐn | unimportant; not serious |
| 将要 | jiāngyào | will; shall |
Questions about 需要
What does 需要 mean?
需要 (xūyào) means "to need; to want; to demand; to require; needs" and is used as a verb and noun.
How do you write 需要?
需要 is made of 2 characters: 需 (14 strokes), 要 (9 strokes). That is 23 strokes in total.
Is 需要 an HSK word?
Yes. 需要 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do I say "you don't need to" with 需要?
Say 不需要 (bù xūyào), as in 你不需要来 (nǐ bù xūyào lái), "you don't need to come." In casual speech, 不用 (bú yòng) is also very common for this meaning.
Can 需要 be used as a noun?
Yes. It can mean "needs," as in 满足顾客的需要 (mǎnzú gùkè de xūyào), "meet customers' needs." The related word 需求 (xūqiú) is also used for demand, especially in economics.