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Kotomora

必

invariably, certain, inevitable

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 4FrequencyTop 500Strokes5

Readings

On'yomi

  • ヒツ

Kun'yomi

  • かなら.ず

Meaning

必 centers on the idea of something being bound to happen: it is certain, inevitable, or invariably the case.

Most common words using 必

20 of 96
  • 必要ひつよう
    N4

    necessary; needed; essential; indispensable

  • 必ずかならず
    N4

    always; without exception; necessarily; certainly; without fail; positively; invariably

  • 必死ひっし
    N3

    frantic; frenetic; desperate

  • 必須ひっす
    N1

    indispensable; essential; requisite; required; compulsory; necessary

  • 必ずしもかならずしも
    N3

    (not) always; (not) necessarily; (not) entirely; (not) all

  • 必見ひっけん

    must-see; not-to-be-missed

  • 必殺ひっさつ

    bringing certain death; deadly; knockout (blow)

  • 必然ひつぜん
    N1

    inevitable; necessary; certain; sure

  • 必至ひっし

    inevitable; necessary; foregone

  • 必需ひつじゅ

    necessary

  • 必勝ひっしょう

    certain victory

  • 必修ひっしゅう
    N1

    required (subject)

  • 必ひつ

    definiteness; certainty

  • 必読ひつどく
    N1

    must-read; required reading

  • 必ずやかならずや

    certainly; surely; definitely

  • 必携ひっけい

    indispensable; essential; must-have

  • 必聴ひっちょう

    must-listen

  • 必中ひっちゅう

    hitting the target

  • 必着ひっちゃく
    N1

    must arrive (no later than; e.g. of an application); must be received; must be delivered

  • 必定ひつじょう

    inevitably; certainly

Explore all words using 必 →

Study

Etymology

必 is thought to originate from a pictograph of a weapon or tool, later associated with the idea of certainty or necessity. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The shape looks like a heart 心 with a slash through it, as if something is so certain it cuts straight to the heart. Whatever is marked this way is inevitable.

Reading mnemonic

For ヒツ, imagine a hit that is certain to land: hit -> ヒツ, and the inevitable strike cuts through like the slash in 必.