Japanese word

不要

Pronunciation

Romajifuyō

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveunnecessary

Example

この道具は不要です。ko no dō gu wa fu yō de su

This tool is unnecessary.

Illustration for 不要 (unnecessary)

More examples

必要な情報だけ残し、不要な部分を削除します。hitsu yō na jō hō da ke noko shi fu yō na bu bun o saku jo shi ma su

I keep only necessary information and delete unnecessary parts.

Core concept

Marks something as having no necessary role in a situation and therefore able to be left out.

Common phrases

  • 不要なものfu yō na mo no

    unnecessary things

  • 不要な情報fu yō na jō hō

    unnecessary information

  • 不要な部分fu yō na bu bun

    unnecessary parts

  • 不要なメールfu yō na mē ru

    unnecessary emails

Similar words

不必要fuhitsuyō: Something that is not required for a particular purpose or situation.
余計yokei: Something unnecessary because it goes beyond what is needed.
無用muyō: Something that is not useful or needed in a particular situation.

Definition in Japanese

なくても困らず、使ったり行ったりする必要がないさま。na ku te mo koma ra zu tsuka tta ri okona tta ri su ru hitsu yō ga na i sa ma

Word origin

不要 (fuyō) is a Sino-Japanese word made from 不 (fu, "not") and 要 (yō, "need").

Usage tips

  • 不要 (fuyō) often appears in notices and formal speech, while いらない (iranai) is common in casual conversation.

Opposites

Word lists with this word