JLPT N3 · Japanese kanji
要 — need
- Reading
- ヨウ・い.る・かなめ
- Meaning
- need; main point; essence; pivot; key to
- JLPT level
- N3
- Language
- Japanese
About this kanji
要 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N3 level. Its primary reading is ヨウ・い.る・かなめ and it means need; main point; essence; pivot; key to. To master it, see it in real Japanese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.
要 appears in everyday japanese words such as 要因 (primary factor), 要望 (demand for) and 要請 (claim).
Japanese words containing 要
Frequently asked questions
What does 要 mean in Japanese?
要 means need; main point; essence; pivot; key to in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N3 kanji every learner meets at that level.
How is 要 read?
要 is read ヨウ・い.る・かなめ. Reading it inside real words — 要因 and 要望 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 要 — is it JLPT N3?
Yes. 要 is on the official JLPT N3 kanji list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.
How do you use 要 in a word?
A common word containing 要 is 要因 (よういん) — "primary factor". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.
How do I learn 要 effectively?
Read it in context. Import any Japanese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 要 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.
More JLPT N3 kanji
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