必修

• Reading: ひっしゅう
• Romaji: hisshū
• Kanji breakdown: 必 (hitsu) — certain, necessary, inevitable; 修 (shū) — study, master, repair
• Pronunciation: /hi.ɕ.ɕɯ.ɯ/

Meaning

Required; compulsory; mandatory. Used for subjects or courses that must be taken.

A noun and no-adjective used almost exclusively in academic contexts: 必修科目 (required subject), 必修授業 (compulsory class). The opposite is 選択 (sentaku, elective) or 選択科目 (sentaku kamoku, elective subject). Also used figuratively: 社会人の必修スキル (an essential skill for working adults). Not interchangeable with 必須 (hissu, essential/indispensable), which is broader — 必修 specifically implies a curriculum or formal requirement.

Examples

1. 英語は全学年の必修科目です。 English is a required subject for all grade levels.
2. 必修の授業を落とすと卒業できない。 If you fail a required class, you won't be able to graduate.
3. プログラミングが必修になる学校が増えている。 More and more schools are making programming a required subject.

Usage Guide

Context: education, school, university

Tone: informational

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 必 (hitsu, certainly/necessarily) + 修 (shū, study/master). Together they mean 'must study' — something that is required learning, not optional.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Students and educators

Social background: Universal