必
invariably · certain · inevitable
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Shape of stick added to heart. Surely.
Symbolism
Necessary, surely, inevitable. Represents surely.
Component Breakdown
heart + 丿
Words & Expressions
Words written with 必
Four-Character Compounds
生者必滅
しょうじゃひつめつ
all living things must die
盛者必衰
じょうしゃひっすい
even the prosperous inevitably decay; sic transit gloria mundi; all that's fair must fade
信賞必罰
しんしょうひつばつ
sure punishment or reward
先手必勝
せんてひっしょう
victory goes to the one who makes the first move; being quick to take action leads to victory; the early bird gets the worm
一発必中
いっぱつひっちゅう
success on the first try (attempt)
驕兵必敗
きょうへいひっぱい
defeat is inevitable for an overconfident army; being arrogant and overconfident inevitably leads to defeat; pride comes before a fall
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 必 mean in Japanese?
必 means invariably, certain, inevitable.
How do you read 必?
On'yomi: ヒツ (HITSU). Kun'yomi: かなら.ず (kanarazu).
How many strokes does 必 have?
必 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 心 (heart).
Is 必 a good kanji for a tattoo?
必 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means invariably, certain, inevitable. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.