Chinese word

不可或缺

Pronunciation

Pinyinbù kě huò quē

Meaning

  • adjectiveessential

Example

学汉语对我来说是不可或缺的。xué hàn yǔ duì wǒ lái shuō shì bù kě huò quē de

Learning Chinese is essential for me.

Illustration for 不可或缺 (essential)

More examples

手机在日常生活中已成为不可或缺的工具。shǒu jī zài rì cháng shēng huó zhōng yǐ chéng wéi bù kě huò quē de gōng jù

The mobile phone has become an indispensable tool in daily life.

Core concept

A necessary part of a whole, whose removal leaves the whole incomplete or unable to work.

Common phrases

  • 不可或缺的条件bù kě huò quē de tiáo jiàn

    an indispensable condition

  • 不可或缺的支持bù kě huò quē de zhī chí

    indispensable support

  • 不可或缺的朋友bù kě huò quē de péng yǒu

    an indispensable friend

Similar words

不可缺少bù kě quē shǎo: Needed for something to exist or function, with the whole failing when it is absent.
必不可少bì bù ké shǎo: Required without exception, so leaving it out is not possible.
不可替代bù kě tì dài: Unable to be replaced because nothing else can fulfill the same role.

Definition in Chinese

无法被替代或省略，对某人或某事的存在和运转非常重要。wú fǎ bèi tì dài huò shěng lüè duì mǒu rén huò mǒu shì de cún zài hé yùn zhuǎn fēi cháng zhòng yào

Word origin

不可或缺 (bùkěhuòquē, "essential") combines 不可 (bùkě, "cannot") with 或缺 (huòquē, "be lacking"), presenting the absence of something important as an unacceptable possibility.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this adjective sounds relatively formal and suits explanations about study, work, or systems more than casual statements of personal attachment.

Opposites

  • 不必要bú bì yàonot necessaryadjective
  • 多余duō yúextraadjective

Word lists with this word