HSK · Level 31
135 words
Chinese word
首要
Pronunciation
Pinyinshǒu yào
Meaning
- adjectivemost important
Example
对我来说，家庭是首要的。duì wǒ lái shuō jiā tíng shì shǒu yào de
For me, family is the most important.
More examples
在制定政策时，公众利益是首要的。zài zhì dìng zhèng cè shí gōng zhòng lì yì shì shǒu yào de
When making policy, the public interest is the most important.
Core concept
The highest position on a scale of importance, marked for attention before competing needs or goals.
Common phrases
首要任务shǒu yào rèn wù
most important task
首要目标shǒu yào mù biāo
most important goal
首要原因shǒu yào yuán yīn
most important cause
Similar words
主要zhǔ yào: Forming the main part of something and having a major role or weight in it.
重要zhòng yào: Important because of its strong value or effect, so it cannot be treated lightly.
关键guān jiàn: Crucial to an outcome because it can decide whether something succeeds or fails.
优先yōu xiān: Due to be dealt with first in time or order because it deserves early attention.
Definition in Chinese
在一系列事物或目标中，地位或重要性最高、应当首先考虑或处理的。zài yí xì liè shì wù huò mù biāo zhōng dì wèi huò zhòng yào xìng zuì gāo yīng dāng shǒu xiān kǎo lǜ huò chú lǐ de
Word origin
首 (shǒu, "head") + 要 (yào, "important") literally joins the ideas of the head and importance to describe what leads all other concerns.
Usage tips
- In conversational Chinese, this word can sound more official than ordinary speech, so its register is worth noticing when choosing everyday phrasing.
Other meanings
- top-priorityadjective
Opposites
- 次要cì yàosecondaryadjective
Related words
- 首要性shǒu yào xìngprimacynoun
- 首要地位shǒu yào dì wèiforemost positionnoun