必须

bì xū

must

HSK Level 2

Example Sentences

你必须做作业。

nǐ bì xū zuò zuò yè.

You must do your homework.

他必须去上班。

tā bì xū qù shàng bān.

He must go to work.

我们必须遵守规则。

wǒ men bì xū zūn shǒu guī zé.

We must follow the rules.

Synonyms

一定要 (yīdìng yào)

must

必须得 (bìxū de)

have to

Antonyms

不必 (bù bì)

not necessary

可选 (kě xuǎn)

optional

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Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 必须 (bìxū) is composed of two characters: 必 (bì), meaning "must" or "certainly," and 须 (xū), meaning "need" or "require." Together, these characters convey the idea of something that is absolutely necessary or essential.The earliest known use of 必须 dates back to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE), when it was used in the sense of "must" or "should." Over time, the meaning of 必须 has evolved to include the idea of "necessity" or "requirement."In modern Chinese, 必须 is used in a variety of contexts to express the idea of something that is absolutely necessary or essential. For example, it can be used to describe a task that must be completed, a rule that must be followed, or a condition that must be met.必须 is also used in a more general sense to express the idea of "must" or "should." For example, it can be used to give advice or to make a recommendation.The word 必须 is an important part of the Chinese language, and it is used in a wide variety of contexts. By understanding the etymology of 必须, HSK learners can gain a deeper understanding of the meaning and usage of this word.