must in Chinese

How to write 必须

Animated stroke order. Tap a character to replay its stroke order.

必须 is listed in the official HSK vocabulary at HSK 3. An intermediate band: enough vocabulary for everyday conversation and travel.

必须 in a sentence

• 我wǒ们men必bì须xū现xiàn在zài走zǒu。

  We must go now.

• 学xué生shēng必bì须xū完wán成chéng作zuò业yè。

  Students must finish their homework.

• 你nǐ必bì须xū先xiān洗xǐ手shǒu。

  You must wash your hands first.

必须 vs 得 vs 应该

Similar and easily confused words, and how they differ.

• 得 děi have to (colloquial)

  Spoken 'gotta' — 我得走了 'I've got to go'. Note the reading: 得 is děi here, the same character as the particle 得 de.

• 应该 yīng gāi should; ought to

  Advice rather than requirement — 你应该早点睡 'you should sleep earlier'. 必须 is mandatory.