要 Kanji – need
The Japanese kanji 要 can mean need, main point, essence, pivot, key to.
Meaning and Readings
How is 要 read?
要 has the onyomi reading ヨウ and the kunyomi readings いる, かなめ.
In romaji, these readings can be written as you, iru, kaname.
Common Japanese Words Using 要
These common Japanese words contain 要. Select linked kanji to explore their meanings and readings.
- 概要（がいよう） — outline, summary, overview, synopsis, abstract, abridgment, abridgement
- 肝要（かんよう） — extremely important, essential, vital, crucial
- 強要（きょうよう） — coercion, extortion, compulsion, force
- 主要（しゅよう） — chief, main, principal, major
- 需要（じゅよう） — demand, request
- 重要（じゅうよう） — important, essential, significant, major, key, principal
- 重要視（じゅうようし） — regarding highly, attaching importance to
- 重要性（じゅうようせい） — importance, gravity
- 重要文化財（じゅうようぶんかざい） — important cultural property, important cultural asset
- 必要（ひつよう） — necessary, needed, essential, indispensable