要: the kanji for necessary; important
要 is a JLPT N3 kanji that means necessary; important. Below are its readings, 3 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
要 is written in 9 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
要 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 3 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ヨウ (you)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 必要ひつよう · hitsuyō | necessary |
| 重要じゅうよう · jūyō | important |
いる (iru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 要るいる · iru | to need |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- この仕事にはパソコンが必要です。Kono shigoto ni wa pasokon ga hitsuyō desu.A computer is necessary for this job.
- これは重要な決定です。Kore wa jūyō na kettei desu.This is an important decision.
- 申請には印鑑が要ります。Shinsei ni wa inkan ga irimasu.You need a seal for the application.
- 健康は何よりも重要です。Kenkō wa nani yori mo jūyō desu.Health is more important than anything.
- 会議には資料が必要です。Kaigi ni wa shiryō ga hitsuyō desu.Materials are necessary for the meeting.
Questions about 要
How many strokes does 要 have?
要 is written in 9 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 要?
The on readings are you (ヨウ). The kun readings are kaname (かなめ), iru (いる).
What JLPT level is 要?
N3. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N3 falls between the former Levels 2 and 3.
More JLPT N3 kanji
Qualities and conditions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 要
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.