Kanji N3

必: invariably, certain, inevitable

必 is a JLPT N3 kanji meaning invariably, certain, inevitable, written with 5 strokes. It is read ヒツ (on) and かならず (kun). Children in Japan learn it in grade 4. You will see it in 必要 (ひつよう, necessary) and 必ず (かならず, always).

必

Meanings

  • invariably
  • certain
  • inevitable
Strokes5
JLPT levelN3
School gradeGrade 4
Frequency#265 of 2,500

On reading · Kun reading

On reading
  • ヒツ

On'yomi: from Chinese, written in katakana. Used in compound words.

Kun reading
  • かならず

Kun'yomi: native Japanese, in hiragana. The faint part is the okurigana, written in kana after the kanji.

Watch the stroke order

Every stroke in order, the live one in vermilion. Replay as often as you like.

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Now draw it

Trace each stroke in order. Wrong direction or wrong order gets flagged right away.

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Your turn: draw stroke 1 of 5. Start at the dot.

Common words with 必

The most useful words written with it, easiest first. Every other kanji in them opens its own page.

  • 必要ひつよう

    necessary; needed; essential; indispensable

    JLPT N4
  • 必ずかならず

    always; without exception; necessarily

    JLPT N4
  • 必死ひっし

    frantic; frenetic; desperate

    JLPT N3
  • 必ずしもかならずしも

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

    JLPT N3
  • 必然ひつぜん

    inevitable; necessary; certain; sure

    JLPT N1
  • 必修ひっしゅう

    required (subject)

    JLPT N1
  • 必需品ひつじゅひん

    necessities; necessary article; requisite

    JLPT N2
  • 必要性ひつようせい

    necessity; need

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Stroke order from KanjiVG © Ulrich Apel, CC BY-SA 3.0. Readings, meanings and words from KANJIDIC2 and JMdict, names from JMnedict, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0, and Wikidata, CC0; the Spanish meanings they lack, translated by Naraio from their English, are shared under the same licence. Example sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR. JLPT lists after Jonathan Waller (tanos.co.uk), CC BY. Sentences split into words with IPADIC © NAIST and IPA, through Lindera.