The Kanji: 要 (Yō / I)
The kanji 要 means "essential," "need," or "summary." It depicts a person (女) with a highlighted waist area (覀), representing the vital center. This character describes necessity and main points.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 必要 (hitsuyō) - Necessary
パスポートが必要です。
"A passport is necessary."
2. 要点 (yōten) - Main point
話の要点をまとめる。
"Summarize the main points."
3. 重要 (jūyō) - Important
この書類は重要だ。
"This document is important."
4. 要る (iru) - To need
助けが要る。
"I need help."
In summary, 要 expresses core necessity - from basic requirements (必要, 要る) to key concepts (要点) and significant matters (重要). It's fundamental for discussing priorities in Japanese.