The kanji 要: meaning, readings and stroke order

要

Meaning: need, key point
On reading: ヨウ you
Kun reading: い（る） iru、かなめ kaname
Strokes: 9
Radical: 西 west
Level: Level 4 · grade 4

Stroke order

Meaning in other languages

Vietnamese: cần, điểm chính (yếu)
Japanese: いる。だいじなところ。
Korean: 필요하다, 요점 (요)
Chinese: 需要、要点

Readings, words and example sentences

ヨウ you · on reading

必ひつ要よう
needed
必ひつ要ような道具を用意します。
I get the tools we need ready.

い（る） iru · kun reading

要いる
to need
この品にはお金が 要いります。
You need money for this item.

かなめ kaname · kun reading · less common

要かなめ
the most important part, key person
守りの 要かなめとなる人です。
He is the key player on defense.

Practise writing 要 in the app

In Dino Kids your child writes 要 with a finger and every stroke is checked, then takes the Level 4 practice test. Free, no ads, no in-app purchases.

Get it on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Readings, radicals: Kanjium, KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); strokes: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); Korean, simplified forms: Unicode Unihan. Meanings, sentences: Dino Kids (CC0). See Licences.