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切要 (せつよう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

切せつ要よう

せ

つ

よ

う

Meanings

1

na-adjective, noun

essential; vital; crucial

A somewhat formal or literary word for something indispensable or of the utmost importance. Often used in written contexts or formal speech.

この計けい画かくには切せつ要ような要よう素そが欠かけている。
This plan lacks an essential element.
安あん全ぜん対たい策さくは切せつ要ようである。
Safety measures are vital.

Written forms

切せつ要ようUsage33%
Standard kanji form; the only written form.
せつようUsage67%

Kanji

切cut, cutoff, be sharp
要need, main point, essence

Similar words

必ひつ要よう
必要 is the common, everyday word for 'necessary' or 'needed'. 切要 is more emphatic and formal, closer to 'indispensable' or 'vital'.
肝かん要よう
肝要 also means 'essential' or 'crucial', but is slightly more common than 切要 and often used in set phrases like 肝要な点. 切要 is rarer and more literary.

Etymology

Composed of 切 (せつ, 'urgent, keen') and 要 (よう, 'essential, pivotal'). The combination yields a meaning of 'extremely important' or 'indispensable'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji components directly reflect the word's meaning.