必不可少 bìbùkěshǎo absolutely necessary
absolutely necessary; indispensable; essential
How to remember 必不可少: 必 must + 不 not + 可 may + 少 few = absolutely necessary.
Characters
How it is used
- Marks something as absolutely indispensable - 水是生命必不可少的 (shuǐ shì shēngmìng bùkěshǎo de) water is essential to life.
- Stresses you cannot do without it, stronger than 重要 (important) or 需要; often attributive 必不可少的条件.
- Near 不可或缺 (indispensable); formal-leaning but widely used.
Example sentences
- 蔬果对平衡饮食必不可少。 Shūguǒ duì pínghéng yǐnshí bìbùkěshǎo.Fruits and vegetables are essential to a balanced diet.
- 汤姆是必不可少的。 Tāngmǔ shì bìbùkěshǎo de.Tom is indispensable.