seoi1 jiu3需要

Jyutpingseoi1 jiu3

Yalesēui yiu

動詞Very common

Definition

To need, require, or demand something in order to achieve a certain purpose.

neutraldaily actionswork

How it's used

While standard in written Chinese, Cantonese speakers often prefer using 要 or 必須 in casual speech to express necessity. Using 需要 can sound slightly more formal or emphatic, similar to how one might use 'require' instead of 'need' in English. It is frequently used when discussing professional requirements or specific conditions that must be met.

Examples

nei5你seoi1需m4唔seoi1需jiu3要ngo5我bong1幫sau2手aa3呀？

Do you need my help?

ni1呢fan6份gung1工seoi1需jiu3要hou2好do1多noi6耐sing3性。

This job requires a lot of patience.

Common phrases

seoi1需jiu3要si4時gaan1間

need time

seoi1需jiu3要bong1幫sau2手

need help

Common mistake

Learners often overuse 需要 in everyday situations where 要 is much more natural. For simple requests like 'I need to go', using 我需要去 sounds overly stiff or like a direct translation from English; 我要走 is the standard way to say this.