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必须 (bì xū) — must; have to; be required to

Definition

必须 is a formal, written 'must' expressing strong obligation — stronger than 应该 ('should') and more formal than the spoken 得 (děi). Negate with 不必须 or 不必.

adverb
musthave tobe required to
Easily confused

Examples

  • 必须。
    Nǐ bì xū xiān wán chéng zuò yè zài wán.
    You must finish your homework before you play.
  • 必须。
    Wǒ men bì xū zài bā diǎn qián dào xué xiào.
    We must arrive at school before eight o'clock.
  • ，。
    Tā bú bì xū qù, tā kě yǐ zì jǐ jué dìng.
    He doesn't have to go; he can decide for himself.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

必bìmust
须xūmust

必 and 须 both express necessity, together mean must.

Characters in this word

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

The shape of 必 comes from the handle on the right side of a weapon, with two extra strokes added to its sides.

Open 必 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 須; 须 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 须 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (必须) it is 須; in others it is 鬚.

  • 彡彡shānhair
  • 頁頁yèhead

The traditional form 須 shows 頁 (head) with 彡 (hair) beside it, drawing a head with hair on the side, a picture of a beard or whiskers.

Open 须 →

Grammar

Appears in
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