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必须

bì xū

must

Usage note

必须在中文中表示‘必须’或‘必要’的意思，通常用于强调某件事情是必不可少的。

bì xū zài zhōng wén zhōng bǐng ‘必须’ huò ‘必要’ de yì思，tōng cháng yòng yú yāo qiú měi jiàn shì qing shì shì bù kě bǎo bì de。

必须 is used in Chinese to mean 'must' or 'necessary', usually to emphasize that something is essential.

Context note

必须常见于日常对话中，比如在安排活动或做决定时强调某件事情的重要性。

bì xū cháng jiàn yú ráo rì huà huà zhōng, bǐ 如 ‘安排活动时必须早点出发’ 或 ‘做决定之前必须考虑清楚’。

Must is commonly found in daily conversations, such as when arranging activities or making decisions to emphasize the importance of something.

5 examples

我们必须早点起床。
wǒ men bì xū zǎo diǎn qǐ chuáng。
We must get up early.
这件事必须认真对待。
zhè jiàn shì bì xū rèn zhēn duì dài。
This matter must be taken seriously.
我们必须按时完成作业。
wǒ men bì xū àn shí wán chéng zuò yè。
We must finish our homework on time.
妈妈说我们必须吃早餐。
mā ma shuō wǒ men bì xū chī zǎo cān。
Mom says we must eat breakfast.
这个项目必须在月底前完成。
zhè ge xiàng mù bì xū zài yuè dǐ qián wán chéng。
This project must be completed by the end of the month.

5 mini stories

妈妈说我们必须早点起床，因为这样可以有更多的时间准备早餐。
mā ma shuō wǒ men bì xū zǎo diǎn qǐ chuáng， yīn wèi zhè yàng kě yǐ yǒu gèng duō de shí jiān zhǔn bèi zǎo cān。
Mom says we must get up early because that way we can have more time to prepare breakfast.
老师告诉我们必须认真听讲，这样才能学好知识。
lǎo shī gào sù wǒ men bì xū rèn zhēn tīng jiǎng， zhè yàng cái néng xué hǎo zhī shi。
The teacher tells us we must listen carefully so we can learn the knowledge well.
我们必须按时完成作业，否则会被批评。
wǒ men bì xū àn shí wán chéng zuò yè， fǒu zé huì bèi pī píng。
We must finish our homework on time, or we will be criticized.
妈妈说我们必须吃早餐，因为不吃早餐对身体不好。
mā ma shuō wǒ men bì xū chī zǎo cān， yīn wèi bù chī zǎo cān duì shēn tǐ bù hǎo。
Mom says we must eat breakfast because not eating breakfast is bad for our health.
这个项目必须在月底前完成，否则会影响整个团队的工作进度。
zhè ge xiàng mù bì xū zài yuè dǐ qián wán chéng， fǒu zé huì yǐng xiǎng zhěng gè tuán duì de gōng zuò jìn dù。
This project must be completed by the end of the month, or it will affect the progress of the whole team's work.

Mini dialogue

上学规则

A
上学可以迟到吗？
Shàngxué kěyǐ chídào ma?
Can we be late for school?
B
不行，我们必须准时到校。
Bù xíng, wǒmen bìxū zhǔnshí dào xiào.
No, we must arrive at school on time.

做作业

A
我可以先玩再写作业吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ xiān wán zài xiě zuòyè ma?
Can I play first and then do my homework?
B
你必须先完成作业，然后再玩。
Nǐ bìxū xiān wánchéng zuòyè, ránhòu zài wán.
You must finish your homework first, and then play.

Related words and contrasts

similar
一定
yī dìng
must; definitely

必须 is a strong 'must'; 一定 can also mean 'must' but is slightly less forceful.

contrast
可以
kě yǐ
can; may

必须 means you have to do it; 可以 means you are allowed to do it.

opposite
不用
bù yòng
need not; don't have to

必须 means 'must'; 不用 means 'don't need to'.

Explore more words

的 / de我 / wǒ你 / nǐ是 / shì了 / le不 / bù在 / zài他 / tā