必
必·certainly, without fail
- On-yomi
- ヒツ
- Kun-yomi
- かならず
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 必ず | かならず | without fail, certainly |
| 必要 | ひつよう | necessary, need |
| 必死 | ひっし | desperate, frantic |
| 必ずしも | かならずしも | not necessarily (with a negative) |
Example sentences
明日は必ず来てください。
あしたはかならずきてください。
Please come tomorrow without fail.
この仕事には経験が必要です。
このしごとにはけいけんがひつようです。
This job requires experience.
高いものが必ずしもいいとは限りません。
たかいものがかならずしもいいとはかぎりません。
Expensive things are not necessarily good.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Writing 必 with the stroke order of 心 — the long slash is written first, not last
- Reading 必死 as ひつし instead of ひっし
Memory aid
Picture it
A heart (心) pierced by a slanting spear: a resolve so fixed that it will certainly happen.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 必要性ひつようせいnecessity
- 必ずしもかならずしもnot necessarily, not always (with a negative)
- 必死ひっしdesperate, frantic; for dear life, with all one's might
- 必要ひつようnecessary
- 必ずかならずcertainly, without fail
- 必需品ひつじゅひんnecessity, essential item, requisite
- 必ずやかならずやcertainly, without fail
- 必然ひつぜんinevitability, necessity
- 必修ひっしゅうcompulsory (subject); required course
Quick check
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What does the kanji 必 mean?