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