How to Say ‘Need’ in Simplified Chinese
需要
xū yào
[shyoo yaow]
💬 Usage Tip: [需要] is a more formal, practical "need" than [要], common in hospitals and instructions. Compare [需要空腹] "need to be fasting" with a more casual [要不要去？] "do you want/need to go?"
Phrase Breakdown
需要
xū yào
[shyoo yaow]
to need; to require
Means to need something or for something to be required.
你需要多休息。
You need more rest.
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