need, main point, essence, pivot, key to
要 centers on the central, indispensable part of something: the essence, the main point, or the pivot that everything else depends on. The sense of 'need' follows naturally from that idea of something essential.
要 originally depicted a person with hands on the waist, emphasizing the central, pivotal part of the body. Over time, the character evolved to represent the abstract idea of something essential or central.
The top 覀 looks like a covered container, and the bottom 女 is a woman. Imagine a woman holding a box that contains the one essential thing everyone needs—the key to everything.
For ヨウ, imagine the essential pivot of a yo-yo: the central axle that everything spins around. Yo-yo -> ヨウ, and the pivot is the key to the toy's movement.
necessary; needed; essential; indispensable
important; essential; significant; major; key; principal
component; factor; item (e.g. in list)
demand; firm request; requisition; requirement; desire
to be needed; to be necessary; to be required; to be wanted; to need; to want
unnecessary; unneeded
demand; need
pivot
appeal; call for something; request; claim; demand
chief; main; principal; major
main cause; primary factor
demand for; request
outline; summary; overview; synopsis; abstract; abridgment; abridgement
to need; to demand; to take; to require
in short; in a word; to sum up; to put it simply; to make a long story short; after all
important matter
coercion; extortion; compulsion; force
(necessary) personnel; required person
in short; the point is; the important thing is; in a word; basically
point; gist; essentials; tenets; outline
summary; digest
required; needed; necessary
gist; main point
important person
(main) point; gist; key points; essentials; substance; summary; outline; abstract
Buddhist memorial service
important points; main points; gist; list of requirements
important position; strategic point
main principle; gist; general plan; guidelines; outline
important post; important office; key position
extremely important; essential; vital; crucial
important point; strategic position; key point
unnecessary; needless
government course (curriculum) guidelines
necessity; need
need for caution; need for care; requiring special attention
ransom demand
importance; gravity
important cultural property; important cultural asset
regarding highly; attaching importance to