What does the kanji 要 mean?

need, main point, essence, pivot, key to

How is the kanji 要 read?

ヨウ (You); い.る (Iru); かなめ (Kaname)

要

Iruいる

need

Youよう

Examples

要人ようじんimportant person

要員よういん(necessary) personnel

要 (Iru) is a JLPT N3 kanji meaning “need, main point, essence”. It is taught in grade 4 and written in 9 strokes.