要 Stroke Order — How to Write 要
要 is written in 9 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 覀, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
要 Radical and Character Components
要 is an ideographic compound. A woman 女 with hands on her waist 覀.
Radical: 覀 + 3 more strokes
要 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- yào
- yāo
Meanings of 要 in Chinese
1
yào要
To ask for, to demand (e.g., payment, a price).
他向老板要加薪
He asked his boss for a raise.
To want to be; to wish to achieve or excel.
她从小就特别要强，凡事都要做到最好。
She has been particularly strong-willed since childhood, always wanting to do everything perfectly.
to ask; to request (someone to do something)
妈妈要我早点回家。
Mom asked me to come home early.
Important; significant; essential; crucial.
掌握学习要领才能事半功倍。
Mastering the essential methods of learning can lead to achieving twice the results with half the effort.
Should; must; to be necessary or required.
你今天要完成这些工作。
You must finish these tasks today.
to be going to; about to; will soon
快要下雨了。
It's about to rain.
If; in case; supposing (often used as part of '要是')
要饿了，冰箱里有吃的
If you get hungry, there's food in the fridge.
To express a choice, similar to 'either...or...' or 'otherwise'.
你得快点，要不然就迟到了
You must hurry, otherwise you'll be late.
2
yāo要
To demand or extort, often by relying on a strong position or leveraging something against another.
他想利用我的秘密来要挟我。
He wants to use my secret to blackmail me.
An archaic or dialectal variant for '腰' (yāo), meaning 'waist'.
他系紧了要带。
He tightened his waistband.
To intercept midway; to stop or block someone or something on their way.
他们要住了一批货物。
They intercepted a batch of goods.
Same as '邀' (yāo), meaning to invite or request someone to do something.
他要我参加明天的会议。
He invited me to attend tomorrow's meeting.
Common Words and Phrases with 要
1
strategic pass; vital pass
这座山脉的要隘之处，是古代商队通往远方城市的必经之路。
The strategic pass in this mountain range was a necessary route for ancient trade caravans to distant cities.
2
Otherwise; or else.
你快点把作业写完，要不就不能出去玩了。
Finish your homework quickly, or else you won't be able to go out and play.
3
unacceptable; intolerable
这种偷工减料的行为真是要不得，会严重影响产品质量。
This kind of shoddy workmanship is truly unacceptable and will severely affect product quality.
4
otherwise; or else
你最好带把伞，要不然可能会被雨淋湿。
You'd better take an umbrella, otherwise you might get wet in the rain.
5
but for; if it were not for
要不是他帮忙，我们不可能这么快完成这项任务。
If it weren't for his help, we couldn't have finished this task so quickly.
6
a strategic location or communications hub where important routes converge
这个小镇地处多条贸易路线的要冲，自古以来就是商贾云集之地。
This small town, situated at a strategic intersection of multiple trade routes, has been a bustling hub for merchants since ancient times.
7
A main thoroughfare or an important road.
这条新修的公路成为连接城镇与港口的交通要道，大大提升了物流效率。
The newly built highway has become a vital thoroughfare connecting the town and the port, greatly improving logistics efficiency.
8
Good, desirable, or fine (often expressing praise or agreement); also used as an exclamation of surprise or admiration, especially for sudden or fast things.
这幅画画得真要得，色彩和构图都恰到好处。
This painting is truly excellent; the colors and composition are just right.
9
A strategic point or important location, often with military significance; it can also refer to a powerful or influential position.
这座山谷是通往北方平原的要地。
This valley is a strategically important passage to the northern plains.
10
main point; key point; highlight
会议记录详细记录了所有讨论的要点。
The meeting minutes detailed all the key points discussed.
11
main points
这篇文章的要端在于阐明了人工智能在教育领域的潜在应用。
The gist of this article lies in elucidating the potential applications of artificial intelligence in the field of education.
12
an important criminal; a serious offender
警方正在全力追捕这起特大盗窃案的几名要犯。
The police are making every effort to apprehend several major criminals involved in this large-scale theft case.
13
to beg for food or money; to beg
他饿得实在没办法，只好去要饭。
He was so hungry that he had no choice but to beg for food.
14
to claim credit for someone else's achievements
他完成项目后，并没有急着要功，而是把大部分荣誉都归功于团队。
After completing the project, he did not rush to claim credit, but instead attributed most of the honor to the team.
15
A vital or crucial point; a strategic location or a fatal spot on the body.
野生动物在遇到危险时，本能地会保护自己的要害部位。
Wild animals instinctively protect their vital parts when in danger.
16
To be on good terms or close friends; to strive for improvement or excellence.
小丽和小芳是多年的老朋友，她们一直很要好。
Xiaoli and Xiaofang are old friends of many years; they have always been very close.
More words with 要
- cuō撮yào要Summary, Abstract
- gài概yào要Summary, Overview
- gāng纲yào要outline, synopsis
- xū须yào要must; need to
- zhāi摘yào要Abstract, Summary
- è扼yào要Concise, Brief
- jí辑yào要Summary, Abstract
- jì纪yào要Minutes, summary of a meeting
- xū需yào要Need, Require
- zhǐ只yào要as long as, only if
- cì次yào要Secondary or less important.
- wù务yào要Must, Be sure to
- zhǐ旨yào要essential point; main idea
- jīn津yào要Strategic point, Crucial passage
- qí齐mín民yào要shù术Essential Techniques for the Welfare of the People, Important Arts for the People's Livelihood
- shì势yào要Crucial, Strategic
- shū枢yào要crucial, pivotal
- yāo要qiú求request, demand
- bú不yào要Don't, Do not want
- fēi非yào要insist on, have to
Idioms with 要
- yào要ér而yán言zhī之in short
- yào要hài害zhī之chù处vital or crucial point
- yào要hài害zhī之dì地a vital strategic location
- yào要sǐ死bù不huó活barely alive, listless, spiritless
- yào要sǐ死yào要huó活to make a big fuss
- yào要yán言bù不fán烦concise and to the point
- yào要yán言miào妙dào道wise words and subtle principles
- bù不dé得yào要lǐng领fail to grasp the main point
- bù不guān关jǐn紧yào要of no importance
- dá达guān官yào要rén人high-ranking officials and important people
- jī击zhòng中yào要hài害hit the nail on the head
- jiǎn简míng明è扼yào要concise and to the point
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Open the tool →Questions about 要
What does 要 mean in Chinese?
要 (yào) means “To ask for” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 要?
要 has 2 pronunciations: yào, yāo.
How many strokes does 要 have?
要 has 9 strokes.
How do you write 要?
要 is written in 9 strokes, starting from the radical 覀. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 要?
The radical of 要 is 覀, and 要 is an ideographic compound.