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JLPT N4Expressions

が必要だ(がひつようだ) — Need / Necessary

Expresses that something is needed or necessary. The needed item takes が; the person or situation that needs it takes は or に.

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Pro lessonUNIT 14 · EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

[Person/situation] は/に [Thing] が 必要だ／必要です

Examples · 例文

  • この仕事にはパソコンが必要です。

    Kono shigoto ni wa pasokon ga hitsuyō desu.

    A computer is necessary for this job.

    この仕事には (for this job) + パソコンが必要

  • ビザを取るには、多くの書類が必要だ。

    Biza o toru ni wa, ōku no shorui ga hitsuyō da.

    Getting a visa requires many documents.

    多くの書類が必要 = many documents are necessary

  • 何が必要ですか？

    Nani ga hitsuyō desu ka?

    What do you need?

    何が (what) + 必要ですか = what is necessary?

Usage notes · 注意

  • 必要だ vs 要る (iru): 必要だ is more formal/written;
  • Question: 要る is casual spoken (何が要る？).
  • Note: 必要性 = necessity (noun).
  • Detail: 必要がある (hitsuyō ga aru) = it is necessary to [do verb].
  • Not necessary: 必要はない / 必要がない / 必要ない (casual).

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones が必要だ is tested against.

vs必要がある (need to DO)

が必要だ takes a NOUN (お金が必要だ = I need money). 必要がある takes a VERB (行く必要がある = it is necessary to go). Choose by whether the thing needed is a thing or an action.

vs要る (iru)

要る is the plain, everyday verb 'to need' (spoken). が必要だ is more formal/objective and common in writing and explanations.

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