need in Chinese

How to write 需要

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

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

需要 in a sentence

• 我wǒ需xū要yào帮bāng助zhù。

  I need help.

• 你nǐ需xū要yào什shén么me？

  What do you need?

• 我wǒ们men需xū要yào更gèng多duō时shí间jiān。

  We need more time.

需要 vs 要 vs 必须

Similar and easily confused words, and how they differ.

• 要 yào to want; to need

  The everyday 'want/need' — 我要一杯水 'I want a water'. 需要 is more formal or impersonal — 需要时间 'it takes time'.

• 必须 bì xū must; to have to

  Obligation vs necessity: 必须 'must do', 需要 'need / be needed'. 我必须走 'I must leave'.