adjective / noun HSK 4
necessary · essential · necessity
Meaning
必要 means something that is necessary, essential, or required. It describes things that must be done or conditions that must exist, often used in formal or written contexts to express necessity or indispensability.
Usage
必要 is commonly used in both spoken and written Mandarin, though it leans slightly formal. It often appears in the patterns '有必要' (there is a necessity to), '没有必要' (there is no need to), and '必要的' (necessary, as an adjective). It can function as both an adjective modifying nouns and as a noun meaning 'necessity' or 'need'.
Examples
- 01如果有必要，我们可以加班完成这个项目。, .If necessary, we can work overtime to complete this project.
- 02我觉得没有必要为这么小的事情生气。.I don't think it's necessary to get angry over such a small matter.
Characters
Common collocations
- 有必要there is a need to, it is necessary
- 没有必要there is no need to, unnecessary
- 必要的条件necessary condition
- 必要性necessity, essentiality
Antonyms
Origin
必要 combines 必 (must, certainly) and 要 (want, need, important) to create the meaning of something that must be had or done—a necessity.