Meaning
The kanji 要 means need, require, essential, and key point. Open any Japanese newspaper and you will find it within the first few paragraphs — inside 必要 (necessary), 重要 (important), or 要求 (demand). Few single characters pull this much weight across everyday writing.
Etymologically, 要 is believed to have originated as a pictograph of a woman with her hands placed on her waist. The waist was the central, load-bearing pivot of the body — the part that holds everything together. From this image, the meaning shifted to that which is essential, the key point, or the crux of a matter. This is why the kun'yomi reading かなめ still refers to a literal pivot pin (as in a folding fan) or the keystone of any situation.
Visually, the character places 西 (the radical) on top and 女 (woman) below — preserving that ancient image of a woman at the waist. Spot 女 at the bottom and the whole etymology snaps into place. 要 has 9 strokes and is a Grade 4 Jōyō kanji; Japanese children encounter it in fourth-year elementary school.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi is ヨウ (yō), covering the abstract senses of necessity, importance, and key elements. Almost every compound word built around 要 uses this reading.
- 必要 (hitsuyō) — necessary, essential
- 重要 (jūyō) — important, significant
- 要求 (yōkyū) — demand, request, requirement
- 要点 (yōten) — key point, main point
- 要素 (yōso) — element, factor, component
- 需要 (juyō) — demand (economic sense)
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Two kun'yomi readings survive in everyday use: い(る) (iru) and かなめ (kaname).
い(る) — Means to need or to require. An intransitive verb used in everyday speech to express necessity. Note that 要る and 居る (to exist) share the same pronunciation — kanji choice and context tell them apart.
- 要る (iru) — to need, to be necessary
- 要らない (iranai) — not needed, unnecessary
かなめ — Refers to the pivot pin of a fan, and by extension the keystone of any situation. Less common in casual speech, but you will encounter it in formal writing and set phrases.
- 要 (kaname) — the pivot, the key person or element
- 肝要 (kanyō) — vital, of utmost importance
Common Words & Compounds
要 expresses something so fundamental that it branches into dozens of essential words. The compounds below appear regularly in newspapers, textbooks, and daily conversation.
Necessity & Importance
- 必要 (hitsuyō) — necessary, essential; the default word when something simply cannot be skipped
- 重要 (jūyō) — important, significant; preferred in formal and written contexts
- 主要 (shuyō) — main, principal, primary
- 肝要 (kanyō) — vital, crucially important (literary)
Requesting & Demanding
- 要求 (yōkyū) — demand, claim, requirement
- 要請 (yōsei) — request, appeal (formal)
- 要望 (yōbō) — desire, wish, request
Summarizing & Key Points
- 要点 (yōten) — key point, main point
- 要約 (yōyaku) — summary, abstract
- 概要 (gaiyō) — outline, overview, summary
- 要領 (yōryō) — gist, knack, key points
Elements & Factors
- 要素 (yōso) — element, factor, component
- 要因 (yōin) — main cause, contributing factor
- 需要 (juyō) — demand (economic); pairs with 供給 (supply)
Caution & Notice
- 要注意 (yōchūi) — caution required, handle with care
- 要件 (yōken) — requirement, necessary condition; also means errand or business
Example Sentences
この仕事には英語が要ります。
Kono shigoto ni wa eigo ga irimasu.
This job requires English.
必要なものがあれば言ってください。
Hitsuyō na mono ga areba itte kudasai.
If there is anything you need, please let me know.
これは重要な問題です。
Kore wa jūyō na mondai desu.
This is an important issue.
要点を簡単にまとめてください。
Yōten wo kantan ni matomete kudasai.
Please briefly summarize the key points.
彼の要求は無理だと思います。
Kare no yōkyū wa muri da to omoimasu.
I think his demands are unreasonable.
この薬は要注意です。
Kono kusuri wa yōchūi desu.
This medicine requires careful attention.
需要と供給のバランスが大切です。
Juyō to kyōkyū no baransu ga taisetsu desu.
The balance between supply and demand is important.
彼女はチームの要となっている。
Kanojo wa chīmu no kaname to natte iru.
She has become the keystone of the team.
報告書の要約を書いてください。
Hōkokusho no yōyaku wo kaite kudasai.
Please write a summary of the report.
この計画の主要な目的は何ですか。
Kono keikaku no shuyō na mokuteki wa nan desu ka.
What is the main purpose of this plan?
Memory Tip
Picture a woman (女) standing with her hands firmly on her waist. The waist is the pivot point of the body — it holds everything together and lets you move, bend, and carry weight. Just as the waist is essential for all movement, 要 marks whatever is needed or central to a situation. When you spot the female component at the bottom of the character, think: she is holding her waist — the most important part! That pivot stance — anchoring the whole body — is 要 in a single image.