필요 vs 필수
Korean word comparison
Listen to 필요
Listen to 필수
| 필요 | 필수 |
|---|---|
pi-LYO noun | pilssu noun |
| a need; something that is necessary or required | something essential or indispensable |
How they differ
"필수" is stronger than "필요" and means something that is required without which something cannot properly work or proceed. "필요" can mean a need in a broader, softer sense, including things that are helpful or wanted but not absolutely indispensable.
When to use each
When to use 필요: Use "필요" when you mean something is needed in a general or practical sense, not necessarily absolutely mandatory.
When to use 필수: Use "필수" when you want to emphasize that something is essential, mandatory, or cannot be left out.
Side-by-side examples
- 회의 전에 필요한 자료를 보내 주세요.
(Please send the materials needed before the meeting.) - 회의 전에 필수 자료를 보내 주세요.
(Please send the essential materials before the meeting.)
Register & nuance: "필수" is more forceful and official than "필요", and it often appears in notices, instructions, and formal writing.
- See the full Word of the Day entry for 필요
- See the Word of the Day entry for 필수
- Back to today's Korean word