Japanese word

重要

Pronunciation

Romajijūyō

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveimportant

Example

安全は重要です。an zen wa jū yō de su

Safety is important.

Illustration for 重要 (important)

More examples

毎日の練習は重要です。mai nichi no ren shū wa jū yō de su

Daily practice is important.

会議では重要な問題から話し合います。kai gi de wa jū yō na mon dai ka ra hana shi a i ma su

At the meeting, we will discuss the important issues first.

Core concept

Marks something as having enough value or necessity that it should not be overlooked.

Common phrases

  • 重要な点jū yō na ten

    important point

  • 重要な問題jū yō na mon dai

    important issue

  • 重要な情報jū yō na jō hō

    important information

Similar words

大事daiji: Being important because it matters personally in a situation.
大切taisetsu: Being valued highly and treated with care or attention.
肝心kanjin: Being the most essential part of a matter.

Definition in Japanese

特に価値や必要性が高く、軽視できないさま。toku ni ka chi ya hitsu yō sei ga taka ku kei shi de ki na i sa ma

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 重要 (jūyō, "important") combines 重 (jū, "heavy") and 要 (yō, "need"), giving the sense of having great weight or necessity.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 重要 (jūyō) often sounds more formal and objective than 大事 (daiji), which is common when speakers discuss what matters personally.

Other meanings

  • essentialna-adjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word