seoi1 jiu3須要须要

Jyutpingseoi1 jiu3

Yalesēui yiu

動詞

Definition

Must; have to; to need to.

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How it's used

This term carries a formal and serious tone, often appearing in official notices, legal documents, or formal workplace instructions. In casual daily speech, native speakers almost always prefer using 要 or 一定要 instead. Using 須要 in a friendly chat can make you sound like you are reading from a government pamphlet or a stern contract.

Examples

nei5你ting1聽jat6日seoi1須jiu3要gaau1交fan2份bou3報gou3告bei3畀lou5老sai3細。

You must submit the report to the boss tomorrow.

ngo5我dei6哋seoi1須jiu3要zik1即hak1刻zau2走jan4人，m4唔hou2好zoi3再to1拖。

We must leave right now, don't delay any longer.

Common phrases

seoi1須jiu3要zeon1遵sau2守

must comply with

seoi1須jiu3要cyu5處lei5理

must be handled

Common mistake

Learners often confuse 須要 with 需要, which means to need. While they sound identical in many dialects, 須要 implies a moral or legal obligation to act, whereas 需要 refers to a requirement or necessity for something.