Meaning and Usage
The verb 要る (いる) means "to need" or "to require." It is commonly used in everyday conversation to express necessity or requirement for something. It is a basic verb often encountered at the JLPT N5 level.
Common Contexts
You will often see 要る used when talking about documents, items, or conditions that are necessary for a particular purpose, such as needing a signature, a passport, or equipment.
Collocations and Patterns
- 要る + が + noun: Indicates that the noun is needed. Example: パスポートが要る (a passport is needed).
- 要るかどうか: Used to express whether something is needed or not. Example: 新しいパソコンが要るかどうか (whether a new computer is needed).
Register and Politeness
要る is a plain form verb and is neutral in politeness. In polite speech, it becomes 要ります (いります).
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 要る (to need) with いる (to exist for living things). Remember 要る is about necessity, while いる is used for the existence of people or animals.