How to say "necessity" in Japanese

• 必要性ひつようせいCommon
  nounThe abstract quality of being necessary: whether something is needed at all. Use it when discussing or weighing the necessity of a plan, measure, or change.
  今日きょうの世界せかいは食料しょくりょう生産せいさんを促進そくしんする必要性ひつようせいがある。↗

  The world today needs to advance its production of food.
• 必然性ひつぜんせいCommon
  nounNecessity as inevitability: that something is bound to happen or follow unavoidably. This is the word for logical or philosophical necessity, rather than for everyday needs.
• 必要ひつようJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounThe everyday word for need or necessity: something required or wanted. It covers both the feeling of needing something and the thing needed, so it is the word you want in most cases.
  歯医者はいしゃに行いく必要ひつようはないですよ。↗

  You don't need to go to the dentist's.
• 米こめJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounThis is the word for rice; its 'necessity' sense reflects rice's standing as a staple food. It is never the word you want for necessity in general — use 必要 for that.
• 必然ひつぜんJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounInevitability itself: the fact that something is bound to happen or could not be otherwise. It shares the logical sense of 'necessity' with 必然性, rather than covering everyday needs.

Use 必要 for everyday need or necessity, 必要性 for the abstract quality of being necessary, 必然 and 必然性 for inevitability or logical necessity, and never 米, which means rice.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 必要性ひつようせいnecessity
• 必然性ひつぜんせいnecessity
• 要否ようひnecessity (or lack thereof)
• 入り用いりようneed
• 入用にゅうようneed
• 必要ひつようnecessity
• 米こめstaple (product, etc.)
• 必然ひつぜんinevitability
• 要ようnecessity
• ことnecessity