要
need · main point · essence · pivot · key to
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
覀 + woman
Cultural Context
Etymology
Combines 'cover' (西) with 'woman' (女), originally referring to the waist area. Extended from this vital body part to mean 'important' and 'necessary.'
Symbolism
Symbolizes essence, importance, and indispensability. Represents the central, essential elements of matters.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
不得要領
ふとくようりょう
vague; ambiguous; noncommittal; vague
要害堅固
ようがいけんご
(a fortress being) impregnable; unassailable; (a fortress being) impregnable
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 要 mean in Japanese?
要 means need, main point, essence, pivot, key to.
How do you read 要?
On'yomi: ヨウ (YOU). Kun'yomi: い.る、かなめ (iru, kaname).
How many strokes does 要 have?
要 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 襾 (west).
Is 要 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 要 (need, main point, essence, pivot, key to) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
Explore by meaning:kanji for need · kanji for main point · kanji for essence · kanji for pivot