need
/niːd/ (bre, ipa) · /niːd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnēd/ (ame, mw)
need — 動詞
- needpresent simple I / you / we / they
- needshe / she / it
- neededpast simple
- needing-ing form
1. to require something because it is essential for a particular purpose or for sur
需要；需求
因特定目的或生存而必須擁有
to require something because it is essential for a particular purpose or for survival — for example, needing food to live, needing money to pay rent, or needing a tool to fix something.
Tanvi needs a new pair of shoes for the school trip next week.
Tanvi 下週學校旅行需要一雙新鞋。
need + noun phrase (concrete object needed)
Plants need water and sunlight to grow properly.
植物需要水和陽光才能健康生長。
The local clinic needs more nurses to treat all the patients.
當地診所需要更多護士來治療所有病患。
Do you need any help with carrying those heavy boxes upstairs?
你需要幫忙把那些沉重的箱子搬上樓嗎？
A kitten needs plenty of attention and regular meals every single day.
小貓咪每天都需要充足的關愛和定時餵食。
文法句型
need + noun phrase
常見錯誤
2. to believe that something is necessary to bring improvement or benefit to a pers
需要改善
某事物有待改進或修繕
to believe that something is necessary to bring improvement or benefit to a person or situation — for instance, saying a car needs washing or a child needs more sleep.
Your bicycle needs new tyres before you ride it on the mountain trail.
你的自行車在上山路之前需要換新輪胎。
need + noun phrase (improvement/repair)
I think this soup needs a little more salt to taste just right.
我覺得這碗湯需要再多加一點鹽才會剛好。
The whole house needs a fresh coat of paint before we sell it.
整棟房子在出售之前需要重新粉刷一遍。
Those curtains need washing after all the smoke from the kitchen fire.
那些窗簾被廚房火災的煙燻過，需要清洗了。
The garden needs to be watered every evening during this hot summer weather.
這個炎熱的夏天，花園每天晚上都需要澆水。
- could use
more informal; suggests the thing would benefit from something
- would benefit from
more formal and softer than 'need'
文法句型
need + noun phrase (improvement)
need + gerund
need + to be + past participle
用法筆記
This sense commonly uses a gerund ('needs washing') or a passive infinitive ('needs to be washed') after the object to describe what action would improve the subject. The gerund form is more informal and typical in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
3. used to say that someone is required or forced to do something because of rules,
必須
因規則或情況而必須做某事
used to say that someone is required or forced to do something because of rules, circumstances, or strong necessity — the same as 'have to' or 'must'.
You need to show your passport when you arrive at the airport counter.
你抵達機場櫃檯時必須出示護照。
need to + infinitive (rule/requirement)
Christopher needs to finish his homework before he can play outside.
Christopher 必須先完成作業才能出去玩。
We need to leave now if we want to catch the last train home.
我們如果想趕上最後一班火車，現在就必須出發。
All drivers need to stop when the traffic light turns solid red.
所有駕駛人在紅燈亮起時都必須停車。
I need to call my mother before she starts worrying about my delay.
我必須打電話給媽媽，免得她開始擔心我為什麼還沒到。
文法句型
need to + infinitive
need not + infinitive (formal)
用法筆記
This sense is followed by a to-infinitive ('need to do'). For the negative, 'don't need to' is the most common form in everyday English; 'needn't' is more common in British English and slightly formal.
常見錯誤
4. used to indicate that no requirement exists for a particular action to be taken
不必
不需要或沒有理由做某事
used to indicate that no requirement exists for a particular action to be taken or performed.
You needn't bring anything to the dinner — we have everything prepared already.
你晚餐不必帶任何東西來——我們已經準備好一切了。
needn't + infinitive (British English)
Amani doesn't need to worry about the exam because she studied every chapter.
Amani 不必擔心考試，因為她每個章節都讀過了。
You don't need to lock the shed; the gardener locks it every evening anyway.
你不需要鎖棚子；園丁每天傍晚都會鎖。
We don't need to book a table because that restaurant is never very busy.
我們不需要訂位，因為那家餐廳從來都不太擠。
Mauricio needn't attend the training session if he has already completed the course online.
如果 Mauricio 已經完成線上課程，就不必參加培訓課程了。
- don't have to
more common in everyday speech; same meaning
文法句型
need not + infinitive
do/does/did not need to + infinitive
用法筆記
The form 'needn't' (without 'to') is primarily British English and slightly formal. In American English and everyday conversation, 'don't/doesn't need to' is far more common. The present tense forms differ in meaning from the past tense forms (see senses 6 and 7).
常見錯誤
5. used to express strong annoyance while telling a person that their intended acti
無權；不該
怒斥對方不該做某事
used to express strong annoyance while telling a person that their intended action is not permitted or justified.
You needn't think you can borrow my car whenever you feel like it.
你別以為可以隨便想借我的車就借。
needn't + infinitive (angry/disapproving)
Apinya needn't imagine that I will pay for her holiday after what she said.
Apinya 別以為我會替她付度假的費用——在她說了那些話之後。
Ari needn't assume he can stay at our flat whenever he visits the city.
Ari 別以為每次來城裡都可以住在我家。
You needn't bother trying to change my mind about selling the house.
你別費心想要改變我賣房子的決定了。
- shouldn't even
conveys similar disapproval but less strong than 'needn't' in this sense
文法句型
need not + infinitive (expressing disapproval)
用法筆記
Only used in negative form with 'needn't' + bare infinitive. The subject is usually 'you' directed at the person being criticised, but 'he/she' is also possible. This sense carries strong emotional tone and is primarily British.
6. used to indicate that a past action was uncalled for — whether a person performe
本不必；無需
過去某件事其實不必要
used to indicate that a past action was uncalled for — whether a person performed it anyway or decided against it precisely because it was not needed.
You needn't have washed the dishes — I already put them in the dishwasher.
你本不必洗碗的——我已經把碗放進洗碗機了。
needn't have + past participle (action done unnecessarily)
We didn't need to hurry because the flight was delayed by almost four hours.
我們不需要趕時間，因為班機延誤了將近四個小時。
Yael needn't have brought an umbrella since the rain stopped before we left.
Yael 本不必帶雨傘的，因為我們出門前雨就停了。
The Kim family didn't need to pay for parking because the hotel offered it free.
金家不需要付停車費，因為旅館完全免費提供停車。
I didn't need to cook dinner because my neighbour had already brought some food over.
我不需要做晚飯，因為鄰居已經送了一些食物過來。
文法句型
need not have + past participle
did not need to + infinitive
用法筆記
Distinguish between 'didn't need to do' (we do not know whether the action happened or not — either way it was unnecessary) and 'needn't have done' (the action WAS done, and it was unnecessary). Sense 7 specifically covers the 'needn't have done' meaning when emphasising that the action happened despite being unnecessary.
常見錯誤
7. used to talk about a past action that was performed but later turned out to have
其實不必
做了某事但後來發現沒必要
used to talk about a past action that was performed but later turned out to have been pointless — often carrying a tone of regret about wasted effort or relief that the effort was unnecessary.
I needn't have worried about the speech — it went really well in the end.
我其實不必擔心那場演講——結果講得很順利。
needn't have + past participle (regret/relief about unnecessary action)
Vinícius needn't have cooked so much food because only three guests came to dinner.
Vinícius 其實不必煮那麼多菜，因為只有三位客人來吃晚餐。
We needn't have packed thick coats for the trip to Thailand in July at all.
我們其實不必為七月去泰國打包厚外套。
Shirin needn't have bought a second ticket because her friend cancelled at the last minute.
Shirin 其實不必買第二張票，因為她的朋友在最後一刻取消了。
文法句型
need not have + past participle (action happened)
用法筆記
This sense differs from sense 6 by focusing specifically on cases where the person DID do the action and later discovered it was unnecessary. The tone can express either mild regret ('I wasted effort') or relief ('luckily I didn't actually need it'). Only used in the form 'needn't have + past participle'.
need — 名詞
- needsingular
- needsplural
1. a situation in which someone does not have something that is important or essent
缺乏；需求
缺乏重要或必需的事物
a situation in which someone does not have something that is important or essential for their life, health, or well-being.
The charity works to help families in need of food and warm clothing.
這個慈善機構致力幫助缺乏食物和保暖衣物的家庭。
in need of + noun phrase (essential items)
There is an urgent need for clean drinking water in the flood-affected villages.
遭受洪水襲擊的村莊迫切需要乾淨的飲用水。
The old garden tree is in desperate need of water after the long drought.
花園裡的老樹在長期乾旱之後急需水分。
Erik felt a deep need for company after living alone in the mountains for months.
Erik 獨自在山上住了幾個月後，深感需要有人陪伴。
The government finally recognised the need for better hospitals in rural areas.
政府終於意識到偏鄉地區需要更好的醫院。
- requirement
more formal; often used in official or technical contexts
- necessity
stronger; implies something absolutely essential
文法句型
in need of + noun phrase
need for + noun phrase
用法筆記
When followed by 'of' ('in need of'), the noun phrase describes what is lacking. When followed by 'for' ('need for something'), it describes a general requirement. The phrase 'in need' on its own can be a polite way to refer to poverty (see sense 4).
常見錯誤
2. the items, conditions, or resources that someone requires to live well, stay hea
必需品；需求
維持生活或達成目標所需之物
the items, conditions, or resources that someone requires to live well, stay healthy, or achieve personal goals.
The shelter provides food, blankets, and other basic needs for homeless people.
收容所為無家可歸的人提供食物、毛毯和其他基本生活必需品。
basic needs (plural — essential requirements)
A good school should meet the needs of every child, not just the top students.
一所好學校應該滿足每個孩子的需求，而不只是頂尖學生。
Sofia's daily needs include three healthy meals and at least eight hours of sleep.
Sofia 的日常需求包括三頓健康餐飲和至少八小時睡眠。
The new software was designed to fit the needs of small business owners perfectly.
這套新軟體的設計完全符合小型企業主的需求。
Parents should listen carefully to the emotional needs of their teenage children.
父母應該仔細傾聽青少年子女的情感需求。
- requirements
more formal; often used in technical or professional settings
- demands
stronger; implies pressure or urgency
- essentials
focuses on the most basic, non-negotiable items
文法句型
someone's needs
needs of + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is most frequently used in the plural form ('needs'). Common verb collocations include 'meet', 'satisfy', 'address', 'fit', and 'serve'. The phrase 'basic needs' refers to the minimum requirements for survival such as food, water, shelter, and clothing.
常見錯誤
3. a strong feeling of wanting something, often something that someone believes the
渴望；慾求
強烈想要某事物的感覺
a strong feeling of wanting something, often something that someone believes they cannot be happy or satisfied without.
Jisoo felt a strong need to travel and explore new places around the world.
Jisoo 強烈渴望去旅行，探索世界各地的新地方。
need to + infinitive (inner desire)
Humans have a basic need for belonging and acceptance within a community.
人類有歸屬於群體並被接納的基本需求。
The need for excitement drove him to try skydiving and mountain climbing each year.
對刺激的渴望驅使他每年都去跳傘和攀岩。
After working alone for weeks, Ezra felt a growing need to talk to other people.
獨自工作數週後，Ezra 越來越想和其他人說話。
Many teenagers experience a powerful need for independence from their families.
許多青少年都體驗到脫離家庭的強烈獨立需求。
文法句型
need for + noun phrase
need to + infinitive
用法筆記
This sense blends the idea of 'want' and 'require'. It is weaker than sense 1 (which implies a genuine lack of something essential) but stronger than a simple 'wish' because it suggests the person feels the want is important. The phrase 'a need for' is common with psychological or emotional concepts.
常見錯誤
4. a situation where someone does not have enough money, food, or other basic resou
貧困
缺乏基本生活資源的狀況
a situation where someone does not have enough money, food, or other basic resources to live a normal life — a polite way of describing poverty or extreme hardship.
The organisation provides free meals for families who are living in need.
該組織為生活貧困的家庭提供免費餐食。
living in need (polite expression for poverty)
Many children in the region suffer from hunger and need due to the ongoing war.
該地區許多孩子因持續的戰爭而飽受飢餓和貧困。
Élise volunteers at a charity that supports women and children in severe need.
Élise 在一家幫助極度貧困婦女和兒童的慈善機構當志工。
The earthquake left thousands of families in desperate need of shelter and medicine.
地震使數千個家庭急需避難所和藥品。
- poverty
more direct and factual than 'need'; less euphemistic
- hardship
broader; can refer to financial, physical, or emotional difficulty
- destitution
extreme form of poverty; much stronger and more formal than 'need'
- wealth
having abundant resources, opposite of being in need
文法句型
in need (poverty context)
用法筆記
'In need' in this sense is a softer, more respectful way to talk about poverty compared to direct terms like 'poor' or 'destitute'. It is commonly used in charity, humanitarian, and social work contexts. The phrase 'those in need' is a standard way to refer to people experiencing poverty.
5. the quality of being essential or demanded by a situation — though the word is f
必要
某事物為必要或有需要的狀態
the quality of being essential or demanded by a situation — though the word is far more frequent in negative patterns stating that something is uncalled for.
There is no need to shout — I can hear you perfectly well from here.
沒有必要大吼大叫——我從這裡就能聽得很清楚。
There is no need to + infinitive
There is no need for concern — the doctors say the operation was a complete success.
無需擔心——醫生說手術非常成功。
Obi saw no need to change his routine after the minor rule update at work.
Obi 認為沒必要因為辦公室的小規則更新而改變自己的習慣。
The manager stressed the need for punctuality during the busy holiday shopping season.
經理強調了假日購物旺季準時上班的必要性。
If need be, we could rent a car and reach the village before dark.
如果有必要，我們可以租車，在天黑前趕到村莊。
- necessity
very similar but slightly more formal; 'necessity' can also refer to a concrete required item
- obligation
more about duty or moral requirement than practical necessity
- unnecessity
rare word; 'unnecessary' as an adjective is more common
文法句型
there is no need to + infinitive
no need for + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is most commonly used in the fixed phrases 'there is no need (to)' and 'if need be'. 'There is no need to' is a polite way to tell someone they do not have to do something. 'If need be' means 'if it becomes necessary' and is a fixed expression. The positive form ('the need for something') is rarer and more formal.
常見錯誤
6. used in everyday speech to say that something is unnecessary or that someone sho
不用；沒必要
口語中表示不必或無需
used in everyday speech to say that something is unnecessary or that someone should not do something — often as a polite response or reassurance.
No need to apologise — it was an honest mistake and nobody got hurt.
不用道歉——那只是一個無心的錯誤，沒有人受傷。
No need to + infinitive (polite reassurance)
No need for anyone to wait outside in the cold rain for the bus.
不必讓任何人在寒冷的雨中站在外面等公車。
No need for + noun phrase (noun construction)
Meera said there was no need to buy her a gift for the housewarming party.
Meera 說不用為她的入厝派對買禮物。
No need for long speeches — just tell everyone what time the meeting starts.
不用長篇大論——只要告訴大家會議幾點開始就好。
Aylin told her colleague there was no need to come to the office on Saturday.
Aylin 告訴同事星期六不必來辦公室。
- not necessary
more direct; can replace 'no need' in most situations
- don't have to
more informal and conversational; common in spoken English
文法句型
no need to + infinitive
no need for + noun phrase
用法筆記
'No need' as a standalone phrase at the start of a sentence is very common in spoken English. It can be used alone ('No need!') as a short reply. Unlike sense 5, this sense is about the practical unnecessariness of an action rather than the abstract concept of necessity.