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必
必 (readings: ひつ, かなら; Japanese kanji) means “necessary / certain”. It is a Grade 4 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 4 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 必要 (necessary).
What does 必 mean?
| Kanji | 必 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | necessary / certain |
| Readings | ひつ, かなら |
| Grade | Grade 4 (Upper) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 必
必 is read ひつ or かなら depending on the word.
Example words with 必
| Example | 必要 (necessary) |
|---|
Practice writing 必 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14