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N3

Kanji 要: meanings, readings, and example words.

2 min read

Kanji 要: need, main point, essence, pivot, key to

Key takeaways

Kanji 要: need, main point, essence, pivot, key to. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

要
N3

Meaning

needmain pointessencepivotkey to

On reading

ヨウ

Kun reading

い.るかなめ

Radical

襾

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 要

need, main point, essence, pivot, key to

Kanji structure breakdown

要

Structure breakdown

覀 + 女

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

This kanji depicts a woman (女) with a cover (覀) or belt around her waist. Since the waist is the most 'essential' and central part of the body, it came to mean 'need' or 'main point.'

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

ヨウ
  • 要因よういん

    primary factor / main cause

  • 要するようする

    to require / to need / to take

  • 要請ようせい

    request / demand / appeal

  • 要望ようぼう

    request / demand

  • 要旨ようし

    summary / main point / essentials

  • 要領ようりょう

    point / gist / essentials

  • 重要じゅうよう

    important / essential / major

  • 主要しゅよう

    main / principal / chief

Kun reading

い.る
  • 要るいる

    to need / to require

Commonly used words

  • 要因
    よういん

    primary factor / main cause

  • 要する
    ようする

    to require / to need / to take

  • 要請
    ようせい

    request / demand / appeal

  • 要望
    ようぼう

    request / demand

  • 要旨
    ようし

    summary / main point / essentials

  • 要領
    ようりょう

    point / gist / essentials

  • 要る
    いる

    to need / to require

Example sentences

Example 1

事故の要因を調べています。

Translation

We are investigating the cause of the accident.

Example 2

成功の要因は努力です。

Translation

The key to success is effort.

Example 3

この仕事は多くの時間を要する。

Translation

This job requires a lot of time.

Example 4

合格するには努力を要する。

Translation

It takes effort to pass.

Related word posts

Kanji 要: need, main point, essence, pivot, key to | Daily Nihongo