亟需 (jí xū) — urgently need

Definition

A formal, written-style verb meaning 'urgently need' — used in reports and official contexts, not everyday speech. It is a fixed two-character verb and does not split.

verb
urgently need
Easily confused

Examples

  • 亟需。
    Dāng jīn shè huì jí xū jiě jué huán jìng wèn tí.
    Today's society urgently needs to solve environmental problems.
  • 亟需。
    Zāi qū jí xū shí pǐn hé yào pǐn.
    The disaster area urgently needs food and medicine.
  • 亟需。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù jí xū zī jīn zhī chí.
    This project urgently needs financial support.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

亟jíurgently
需xūneed

亟 (urgently) and 需 (need) mean to urgently need.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

亟 places 人 (person) between 二 (two edges), marking the extremes around a person.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

需 originally showed 天, here a person, under 雨, rain, as someone getting wet.

Open 需 →

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