必须必須 bìxū — must, have to
bìxū (fourth tone, falling)bi4xu1
Traditional: 必須
must, have to
HSK 3· HSK 1–4 (classic)Level 3· Three-band, nine-level standardadverb
Meanings
must, have to
An obligation imposed from outside — a rule, a deadline, a law. It stands before the verb and has no negative of its own: "you don’t have to" is 不用, while 不能 would mean "you may not".
adverb
Example sentences
- 你必须八点以前到机场。你必須八點以前到機場。Nǐ (third tone, dipping) bìxū (fourth tone, falling) bā (first tone, high and level) diǎn (third tone, dipping) yǐqián (third tone, dipping) dào (fourth tone, falling) jīchǎng. (first tone, high and level)···
You have to be at the airport before eight.
- 参加考试必须带护照。參加考試必須帶護照。Cānjiā (first tone, high and level) kǎoshì (third tone, dipping) bìxū (fourth tone, falling) dài (fourth tone, falling) hùzhào. (fourth tone, falling)···
You must bring your passport to sit the exam.
Common mistakes
Not quite你不必须去。
Correct你不用去。
必须 cannot be negated with 不. Absence of obligation is 不用 (or the more formal 不必); 不能 forbids rather than releases.