无需 (wú xū) — to have no need to; it is not necessary (to do something)

Definition

无需 (wú xū) is a formal verb meaning 'there is no need to', often followed by a verb. More written and stronger than 不必 or 不用, which are everyday alternatives.

verb
to have no need toit is not necessary (to do something)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 无需，。
    Nín wú xū dān xīn, yí qiè dōu huì hǎo qǐ lái de.
    You don't need to worry; everything will be fine.
  • 无需，。
    Zhè ge wèn tí wú xū tǎo lùn, wǒ men zhí jiē jué dìng ba.
    There's no need to discuss this question; let's just decide directly.
  • 无需，。
    wú xū Duō yán, dà jiā dōu míng bai nǐ de yì si.
    No need to say more; everyone understands what you mean.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

无wúhave no
需xūneed

“无” means have no and “需” is need, so the word expresses having no need to do something.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 無; 无 is its simplified writing.

For the simplified 无, the story is about 無. 無 drew a person dancing with ox tails held in both hands to pray for rain, then was borrowed for 'have no', so the picture does not explain that meaning.

Open 无 →

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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