Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning

to require; to need; to want; necessity; need

Chinese: 需要、需求。

Hear the Four Tones

The same syllable “xu” becomes a different word in each tone. 需 is the 1st tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.

Stroke Order

Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.

Common Words

  • 需要xū yàoto need; to want; to demand; to require
  • 需求xū qiúrequirement; to require; (economics) demand
  • 必需bì xūto need; to require; essential; indispensable
  • 急需jí xūto urgently need; urgent need
  • 内需nèi xūdomestic demand

Example Sentence

完成这项工作需要很多时间。Wán chéng zhè xiàng gōng zuò xū yào hěn duō shí jiān.Completing this work requires a lot of time.

完成Wán chéngto completezhèthisxiàngback of neck工作gōng zuòto work需要xū yàoto needhěnvery多时duō shílong timejiānbetween

Go deeper

Where this character comes from

The rain radical 雨 over 而: originally to wait (as for rain). It means ‘to need, require, want; needs, necessities’ (需要, 需求, 必需).

A way to remember it

‘To need / require’: 需要 (to need), 需求 (demand).