需要 (xū yào) — (verb) to need, to require, to want; (noun) needs, requirements

Definition

需要 is the neutral 'need / require', used for both things and abstract necessities — more formal than the everyday 要, stronger than 要求 ('request/demand' from someone). 必需 is a fixed adjective meaning 'essential', not a verb.

verb
to needto requireto want
noun
needsrequirements

Examples

  • 需要。
    Wǒ xū yào yì bēi shuǐ.
    I need a glass of water.
  • 需要。
    Xué xí xū yào hěn duō nǔ lì.
    Studying requires a lot of effort.
  • 需要。
    Tā de xū yào hěn jiǎn dān.
    His needs are very simple.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

需xūneed
要yàowant; need

需 and 要 both involve needing or wanting, so together they express need or requirement.

Characters in this word

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 →

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

要 began as a drawing of a person with both hands pointing to the waist.

Open 要 →
Appears in
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