不可欠

• Reading: ふかけつ
• Romaji: fukaketsu
• Kanji breakdown: 不 (fu) — not; 可 (ka) — possible; 欠 (ketsu) — lack, absence
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.ka.ke.tsɯ/

Meaning

Indispensable; essential. Describes something that absolutely cannot be done without.

A na-adjective formed with the negative prefix 不 plus 可欠 (able to be lacking). Literally 'not able to be absent.' Stronger than 必要 (necessary) — implies that removal would cause failure. Common patterns: 不可欠な存在 (an indispensable presence), 不可欠な要素 (an essential element).

Examples

1. 水は生きるために不可欠なものだ。 Water is indispensable for survival.
2. チームワークは成功に不可欠だ。 Teamwork is essential for success.
3. スマートフォンは現代生活に不可欠になっている。 Smartphones have become indispensable in modern life.

Usage Guide

Context: academic, business, writing

Tone: emphatic

Origin & History

Compound of 不 (fu, not), 可 (ka, possible), and 欠 (ketsu, lacking). Together, 'not possible to lack' — something whose absence is unthinkable.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal