不可或缺

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: bù kě huò quē
• English Translation: Indispensable (cannot be missing)
• Idiom Composition: 「不」（Not (negation)）＋「可」（Can or may (possibility)）＋「或」（Even a little (functions as an intensifier meaning "at all" in this context)）＋「缺」（To lack or be missing）
• Meaning: Extremely important to the point that something cannot exist or function without it; an absolute necessity that cannot be missing even in the slightest degree.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「不可或缺」 contains the following nuances:

• Absolute Necessity: This idiom does not just mean "important"; it refers to an irreplaceable element where the whole would fail to function if that specific part were missing.
• The Nuance of 或 (huò): In this specific idiom, the character 或 (huò) acts as an intensifier meaning "even a little." It emphasizes the strictness of the requirement—that the item cannot be missing even in the smallest amount.

3. Usage

「不可或缺」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Importance as a component: Used to describe a specific part of a system, team, or lifestyle that plays a decisive and necessary role.
  • Example:「水是人类生存不可或缺的资源。」
    （Water is an indispensable resource for human survival.）
• Evaluating people or roles: Used to praise a person's contribution or presence within an organization, suggesting they are irreplaceable.
  • Example:「他在这个项目中扮演了不可或缺的角色。」
    （He played an indispensable role in this project.）
• Abstract concepts: Frequently used to describe invisible but essential foundations like trust, health, or education.
  • Example:「信任是建立良好人际关系不可或缺的基础。」
    （Trust is an indispensable foundation for building good interpersonal relationships.）

Additional Examples:

1. 手机已经成为现代人生活中不可或缺的一部分。
   （Mobile phones have already become an indispensable part of modern life.）
2. 对于成功来说，勤奋是不可或缺的条件。
   （For success, diligence is an indispensable condition.）
3. 维生素是我们身体健康不可或缺的营养素。
   （Vitamins are indispensable nutrients for our physical health.）
4. 团队合作是这家公司成功的不可或缺的因素。
   （Teamwork is an indispensable factor in this company's success.）
5. 无论科技如何发展，阅读依然是获取知识不可或缺的途径。
   （No matter how technology develops, reading remains an indispensable way to acquire knowledge.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Frequency of Use: This is a very common and somewhat formal expression used in daily conversation, news, and academic writing. While it is nearly synonymous with 必不可少 (bì bù kě shǎo), 不可或缺 (bù kě huò quē) carries a more literary and professional tone.
• Structure: The character 或 (huò) here retains an archaic meaning of "at all" or "slightly." While not used this way in modern isolation, it provides the idiom with its sense of "not even a little can be missing."

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 必不可少 (bì bù kě shǎo): Absolutely necessary; more colloquial and common in everyday speech.link
  • 至关重要 (zhì guān zhòng yào): Of vital importance; refers to something being a crucial turning point or key factor.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 可有可无 (kě yǒu kě wú): Optional or dispensable; something that doesn't matter whether it exists or not.
  • 无足轻重 (wú zú qīng zhòng): Insignificant or of little weight; not worth taking into account.link
  • 无关紧要 (wú guān jǐn yào): Of no importance or consequence.link

6. Summary

不可或缺 (bù kě huò quē) is a formal idiom used to emphasize that something is an "indispensable" or "essential" part of a whole. It can describe physical necessities like water and air, or abstract concepts like trust and love. It is frequently used in professional and academic contexts to highlight a critical component.