Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
需 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
需
xū
to require
HSK 5, v, 14 strokes, radical 雨, rank #2132, Hard
需
xū
to need
HSK 5, v, 14 strokes, radical 雨, rank #2132, Hard
需
xū
to want
HSK 5, v, 14 strokes, radical 雨, rank #2132, Hard
需
xū
necessity
HSK 5, v, 14 strokes, radical 雨, rank #2132, Hard
需
xū
need
HSK 5, v, 14 strokes, radical 雨, rank #2132, Hard
需
xū
to need, to require; must
HSK 5, v, 14 strokes, radical 雨, rank #2132, Hard
xū(xu1)xu T1
1to require
2to need
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
需xū(xu1)
The character 需 (xū) means 'to need' or 'to require.' It is commonly used to express necessity or demands in various contexts, such as needing help, resources, or meeting requirements. The nuance often implies a sense of urgency or obligation in fulfilling that need.
Strokes14Radical雨Frequency#2132DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, expressing needs can often be indirect or polite, reflecting the values of harmony and consideration for others. The word 需 may appear in business contexts where requirements for projects or proposals are discussed.
Memory tip
Imagine a person standing next to a sign that says 'Need Help?' with the character 需 above it. The two horizontal lines at the top of 需 can remind you of a person reaching out, symbolizing a request or a need, while the bottom part looks like a 'u' for 'you' - who is in need.
Meanings of 需
xū(xu1)
1to require
2to need
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 需 means.
About 需
需Simplified
14Strokes
雨Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2132Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 需
Podcast: 需
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 需
Quick Contrast
必要 (bìyào) - use 需 (xū) when emphasizing urgency or obligation, while 必要 (bìyào) indicates something is necessary but may lack the same sense of immediacy.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 需 (xū) with similar-sounding words like 许 (xǔ), which means 'to allow' or 'to promise.' This word is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, often followed by a noun or verb indicating what is needed. Pay attention to the tone, as it is pronounced with a level tone (first tone).
HSK Study Tips
While 需 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it is beneficial for learners focusing on practical conversations. It connects with other necessity-related vocabulary such as 要 (yào, to want) and 必须 (bìxū, must), which can enhance understanding of expressing needs.
Common Mistakes
One common mistake is using 需 in a casual context where 要 would be more appropriate, such as saying '我需去商店' (Wǒ xū qù shāngdiàn) instead of '我想去商店' (Wǒ xiǎng qù shāngdiàn) which means 'I want to go to the store.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 需
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 需, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 需 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 需?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 需 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
Originally was a pictograph of a person standing under the rain (雨), representing the meaning "to get wet", now written as 濡.
The current meaning is a phonetic loan. The person component was later replaced with the phonetic component 而.
The character 需 (xū) means 'to need' or 'to require.' It is commonly used to express necessity or demands in various contexts, such as needing help, resources, or meeting requirements. The nuance often implies a sense of urgency or obligation in fulfilling that need.
When to use 需
Be careful not to confuse 需 (xū) with similar-sounding words like 许 (xǔ), which means 'to allow' or 'to promise.' This word is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, often followed by a noun or verb indicating what is needed. Pay attention to the tone, as it is pronounced with a level tone (first tone).
需 or something close to it
必要 (bìyào) - use 需 (xū) when emphasizing urgency or obligation, while 必要 (bìyào) indicates something is necessary but may lack the same sense of immediacy.
What learners get wrong
One common mistake is using 需 in a casual context where 要 would be more appropriate, such as saying '我需去商店' (Wǒ xū qù shāngdiàn) instead of '我想去商店' (Wǒ xiǎng qù shāngdiàn) which means 'I want to go to the store.'
Write 需
需
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 需 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 需
需 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
You need to understand how office politics influence the working environment.
11
完成这个项目需要不同部门的密切合作。
Wánchéng zhège xiàngmù xūyào bùtóng bùmén de mìqiè hézuò.
Completing this project requires close cooperation from different departments.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 需?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Cultural Notes for 需
💡Did you know?
The character '需' is related to the element of water, represented by the radical '雨'. In agriculture, water is essential for crops, reflecting the character's meaning of necessity and requirement.
Word Family of 需
Compounds31
懦nuòweak, timid, cowardly
儒rúscholar
蠕rúwasp; to wriggle, to squirm
孺rúchild; blood relation; affection
濡rúto moisten, to immerse; wet, damp
糯nuòglutinous rice; sticky, viscous
嚅rúto mumble, to stutter
壖ruán
嬬rú
擩rǔ
曘rú
獳nòu
瓀ruǎn
礝ruǎn
繻xū
臑nào
薷rúElshotria paltrini
襦rúcoat, jacket; fine silk fabric
轜ér
醹rú
鑐xū
颥rúthe temporal bone
嶿ru
檽nòu
燸rú
穤nuò
羺nóu
譳nòu
隭ér
顬rúthe temporal bone
鱬rú
Words containing this character15
需要xūyàoto need
需求xūqiúrequirement
需xūto need
无需wúxūneedless無需
急需jíxūurgent need
必需bìxūto need
供需gōngxūsupply and demand
必需品bìxūpǐnnecessity
军需jūnxūmilitary material軍需
亟需jíxūurgent need
各取所需gèqǔsuǒxūeach takes what he needs (idiom)
不时之需bùshízhīxūa possible period of want or need不時之需
特需tèxūspecial need
按需分配ànxūfēnpèidistribution according to need
内需nèixūdomestic demand內需
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 需
What does 懦 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 需
Yes, 需 (xū) and 需要 (xūyào) are closely related. While 需 is a standalone character meaning 'need' or 'require,' 需要 is a verb phrase that means 'to need' or 'to require something.' They can often be used interchangeably in context.
需 (xū) is categorized as an HSK level 7 character. This indicates that it is considered an advanced word that learners typically encounter in more complex texts or conversations.
需 (xū) means 'to require' or 'to need' in Chinese. It conveys a sense of necessity or demand for something. This character is often used in contexts where something is required or needed.
You can use 需 (xū) to express needs or requirements. For example, in the sentence '我需要帮助' (Wǒ xū yào bāngzhù), it means 'I need help.' It's often followed by other verbs or nouns to specify what is required.
You can say '我需要帮助' (Wǒ xūyào bāngzhù), which means 'I need help.'
Yes, 需 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more common in written language, such as reports or requests.
Not exactly; while both express need, 需 emphasizes necessity or requirement, whereas 要 can imply a desire.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 需?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
