This fall, excitement for the arrival of 新米 (shinmai, the new rice crop of the year) is greater than usual. The lingering effect of last year’s 不作 (fusaku, poor harvest) hit hard in August when rice stock is usually at the lowest level every year.

日本人の食生活に、 お米は必要不可欠です (Nihonjin no shokuseikatsu ni o-kome wa hitsuyō fukaketsu desu, As for the Japanese diet, rice is an essential staple). In this statement, 必要不可欠 (hitsuyō fukaketsu) means “indispensable” and “absolutely essential” because both 必要 (hitsuyō) and 不可欠 (fukaketsu) suggest necessity. The kanji of 不可欠 literally translate to 欠くことができない (kaku koto ga dekinai, can not be done without) as 不可 (fuka) connotes wrong and unacceptable while 欠 (ketsu, ka[keru], ka[ku]) suggests lack.

The character 欠 pops up in our daily conversations, too: 朝食にコーヒーは欠かせない (Chōshoku ni kōhī wa kakasenai, Coffee is essential for breakfast). If your need for caffeine is as serious as mine, try this version too: コーヒーがないと一日が始まらない (Kōhī ga naito ichinichi ga hajimaranai, My day can’t start without coffee).

Just like coffee, a 主食 (shushoku, main staple) like rice, is more of a 必需品 (hitsujuhin, necessity/must-have item) than a nice-to-have. 携帯電話も必需品だ (Keitai denwa mo hitsujuhin da, Cell phones are also a basic necessity). There are no exact words for “nice-to-haves” in Japanese, but the idea can be translated as 絶対に必要ではないが、あるといいもの (zettai ni hitsuyō dewa nai ga, aru to ii mono, not absolutely necessary, but good to have).

Just note, as an adjective 必需 (hitsuju, indispensable) isn’t often used without 品 (hin, shina, item). Synonyms include 必要 (hitsuyō, necessary) and 必須 (hissu, requisite), but they rarely accompany 品. Also, 必須 is stronger than 必要, just like “must” is stronger than “need.”

So how do we express our needs in real-life situations? Let’s say you can’t find a book at a bookstore. Well, you can ask the clerk, この本がほしいんですが、どこにありますか？ (Kono hon ga hoshii-n desu ga, doko ni arimasu ka?, [I] want this book, where is it?) The adjective ほしい (hoshii, wantable) is the most basic way to describe a need or desire, the above question when literally translated reads, “this book is wantable (by me).”

If the stock is out, you may need to step up your request and ask for a special arrangement: 大学の授業で使うから、買わなくちゃいけないんです (Daigaku no jugyō de tsukau kara, kawanakucha ikenai-n desu, [I] have to buy it because [I] will use it for my university class). The adverb どうしても (dōshite mo, no matter what) is also handy in such a situation: どうしても必要なんですが、どこで買えますか？ (Dōshite mo hitsuyō nan desu ga, doko de kaemasu ka?, I really need [it], where can [I] buy [it]?)

If your request is in written language, it’s better to be a little more formal: どうしても買わなくてはならない参考書があります (Dōshite​mo kawanakute wa naranai sankōsho ga arimasu, There’s a reference guide [in it that I] absolutely have to buy). The adverb どうしても helps to highlight your urgency, どうしても今月中にそれを入手しなくてはいけない (dōshite mo kongetsu-chū ni sore o nyūshu shinakute wa ikenai, I must get it within this month).

In addition to しなくてはいけない (shinakute wa ikenai), you may have heard the term しなくてはならない (shinakute wa naranai), so what’s the difference? While both phrases connote a sense of obligation and necessity, ならない is more formal and suited for writing. Furthermore, いけない carries a subjective tone and ならない is more appropriate when talking about rules and customs.

For example, 締切りは守らなくてはならない (shimekiri wa mamoranakute wa naranai, deadlines must be met) would be how a general rule is introduced. Then, 食卓に必ずご飯を出さなくてはいけない (shokutaku ni kanarazu gohan o dasanakute wa ikenai, [I] must always serve rice at the table) would be an example of a subjective opinion, one a devoted parent might say.

Is something no longer needed? In that case, the word you’re likely to use is 不要 (fuyō, unnecessary), the antonym of 必要. There are two nouns that are used to describe unused things: 不用品 and 不要品. They are both read as fuyōhin, but 不用品 are specifically broken things while 不要品 are objects that are just no longer used. When it comes to rice, however, it’ll forever remain 生活必需品 (seikatsu hitsujuhin, daily necessities).