Writing
需要 (xūyào) — how to say "to need" in Chinese
需要
To need
modal verb · noun
How to use it
Goes before another verb.
我需要休息。
wǒ xū yào xiū xi
I need to rest.
Character composition
to need
to want
Radicals / Keys
Cover
#146 · yà · 6 strokes
Rain
#173 · yǔ · 8 strokes
Synonyms
Collocations
需要帮助
xūyào bāngzhù
need help
需要休息
xūyào xiūxi
need rest
需要时间
xūyào shíjiān
need time
Examples
如果你需要帮助,随时告诉我。
If you need help, tell me anytime.
我需要帮助。
I need help.
Mnemonic

[xūyào-] Sue Yao is stranded in a desert, where she 需要 desperately needs water 🌵. She fantasizes about a fountain that roars loudly but doesn’t give her the water she wants. Instead, she sees the sign 需 "NEED WATER" and a rock with 要 "WANT WATER," chuckling at the irony.
Frequently asked questions
How to say need in Chinese?
"to need" in Chinese is 需要 (xūyào).
需要 meaning in English
需要 (xūyào) means "To need".
How is 需要 pronounced?
It is pronounced xūyào (written as xuyao). You can listen to the pronunciation on this page.
How do you write "to need" in Chinese characters?
It is written 需要: 需 has 14 strokes, 要 has 9 strokes. The Writing section above animates the stroke order of each character and lets you trace it.
What HSK level is 需要?
需要 belongs to the HSK 3 vocabulary list.
Tomyo
Learn Chinese words with spaced repetition
Add 需要 to your vocabulary and remember it with smart reviews, audio and examples.
