Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 必要する | hitsuyōto-surú | ||
| …が必要 | …ga hitsuyō | ||
| 要る | iru | [iɾɯ̟] (narrow) | intransitive |
The various forms of 'need' are used to express an absolute requirement. You can use the intransitive verb 要る to describe a state of requirement, or use the noun 必要 (meaning 'something required') in combination with particles and verbs to indicate what is necessary.
Which one should you use?
The verb 要る is the most common way to say 'to need' in daily conversation. In contrast, the verb 必要とする sounds more formal or technical.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the noun 必要 to express a need, the object being needed is marked with the particle が rather than を, as seen in the pattern …が必要. For the verb 要る, the negative form is 要らない, which means 'do not need'.
How do you pronounce it?
hitsuyōto-surú
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse the verb 要る (iru, to need) with the verb いる (iru, to exist or be present). While they sound the same, they use different kanji and are used in different contexts.
Did you know?
- To politely decline an offer, Japanese speakers often avoid using 要らない and instead use phrases like 結構です meaning 'it is sufficient'.
- The negative form 要らない (iranai) can sometimes sound quite blunt or dismissive in casual conversation, similar to saying 'I don't want it' in English.
- If you are writing a formal document, you will almost always see the kanji version 必要 used, as the hiragana-only version can appear too informal for professional settings.
Examples in context
- 両方要るよ。We need both.This sentence shows the use of 要る to express needing both items.Tatoeba #10714063 by small_snow, translation #4501172 by CK
- 現金が要るの。I need some cash.This sentence shows the use of 要る to express a need for cash.Tatoeba #8667950 by small_snow, translation #1638268 by Spamster
- 金が要るんだ。I need money.This sentence shows the use of 要る to express a need for money.Tatoeba #11076927 by small_snow, translation #436861 by lukaszpp
- 社員手帳（しゃいんてちょう）が必要です。I need an employee handbook.
- 明日の会議に参加するため、資料が必要になりました。I need the documents for tomorrow's meeting.
- 登録（とうろく）フォームが必要。I need the registration form.
- 手伝ってくれる人が必要だ。I need someone who can help me.
- メモ用紙が要るんやけど。I need some memo paper.
- アドバイスが欲しいんだけど。I need some advice.
- 38 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Yui are preparing for a school project.
- 陽太 Yotaこの作業に何が必要する？Kono sagyō ni nani ga hitsuyō suru?What do we need for this task?
- 結衣 Yui大きな紙とペンが必要するよ。Ōkina kami to pen ga hitsuyō suru yo.We need large paper and a pen.
- 陽太 Yotaじゃあ、僕が準備するね。Jā, boku ga junbi suru ne.Then, I will prepare them.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとう、陽太くん。Arigatō, Yōta-kun.Thank you, Yota.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “need” translations and entries 要る, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
