需 xū — to require; to need; to want; necessity; need
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.
Common words: 需要 (xū yào)、需求 (xū qiú)、必需 (bì xū)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "need"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "need", including 需 (xū), 待 (dāi / dài). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "need" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 需 (xū), 待 (dāi / dài) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span xū, dāi, dài — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 需 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 需 xūto require; to need; to want; necessity; needUseful words: 需要, 需求
- 待 dāi / dàistay; delay; wait; treat; deal with; needUseful words: 等待, 对待
Common words for these 2 "need" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 需 (xū) — so "need" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "need".
待 dāi / dài — stay; delay; wait; treat; deal with; need
他对每个人都很友好，待人真诚。Tā duì měi ge rén dōu hěn yǒu hǎo, dài rén zhēn chéng.He is friendly to everyone and treats people sincerely.
Common words: 等待 (děng dài)、对待 (duì dài)、接待 (jiē dài)
All 2 characters
Open 需、待 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.