zhòngyào: 重要 - Important, Significant, Major

• Keywords: zhongyao, 重要, important in Chinese, significant in Mandarin, Chinese word for major, how to say important in Chinese, HSK 3 vocabulary, zhòngyào meaning, Chinese adjectives
• Summary: Learn how to use “重要” (zhòngyào), the most fundamental and common way to say “important” in Mandarin Chinese. This guide breaks down the characters, explores cultural nuances, and provides 10 practical example sentences, helping you understand how to express what matters most in conversations, from daily life to business contexts. Master this essential HSK 3 adjective to elevate your fluency.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhòngyào
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: Important, significant, major, crucial.
• In a Nutshell: “重要” is the go-to word in Chinese for expressing importance. It describes a person, object, event, or idea that carries significant weight, value, or consequence. Think of it as the direct equivalent of “important” in English, applicable in almost any situation, from casual chats to formal speeches.

• 重 (zhòng): This character's original meaning is “heavy” or “weighty.” Something that is physically heavy requires more effort and attention. Metaphorically, it represents something that has substance and significance.
• 要 (yào): This character means “to want,” “to need,” or “essential.” It points to something that is desired or required.

When combined, 重要 (zhòngyào) literally means “heavy and essential.” This beautiful combination perfectly captures the modern meaning: something that is so weighty and necessary that it cannot be ignored.

In many Western cultures, especially American culture, “importance” is often framed from an individualistic perspective: “This is important *to me*.” While this is also true in China, the concept of 重要 is frequently linked to a more collective context. What is considered “important” is often determined by its value to the family, the company, the community, or even the nation. For example, a major life decision, like choosing a career, might be weighed not just on personal passion but on its stability and ability to support one's parents—factors that are 重要 for the family unit. This contrasts with a Western approach that might prioritize individual fulfillment as the most 重要 factor. This doesn't mean Chinese culture negates personal feelings, but rather that the “importance” of something is often measured by a wider, more relational and societal lens. Understanding this helps you grasp why certain topics or duties are given such high priority in Chinese society.

重要 is an extremely versatile adjective used across all levels of formality.

• In Conversation: It's commonly used with adverbs like 很 (hěn), 非常 (fēicháng), or 太 (tài) to modify its degree. For example, `这件事很重要 (zhè jiàn shì hěn zhòngyào)` - “This matter is very important.”
• In Business and Academia: It is used to highlight key points, critical factors, or significant findings. You'll often hear phrases like `重要会议 (zhòngyào huìyì)` (important meeting) or `重要决定 (zhòngyào juédìng)` (important decision).
• Expressing Priority: It is often used with 最 (zuì) to mean “most important.” For example, `什么最重要？ (shénme zuì zhòngyào?)` - “What is most important?”
• A Common Structure: The `对…来说 (duì… láishuō)` pattern is frequently used with 重要 to specify *for whom* something is important. E.g., `健康对每个人来说都很重要 (jiànkāng duì měi ge rén láishuō dōu hěn zhòngyào)` - “Health is important to everyone.”

• Example 1:
  • 这是一个很重要的决定。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yí ge hěn zhòngyào de juédìng.
  • English: This is a very important decision.
  • Analysis: A classic and straightforward example. The adjective 重要 modifies the noun `决定 (juédìng)` using the particle `的 (de)`.
• Example 2:
  • 家庭对我来说最重要。
  • Pinyin: Jiātíng duì wǒ láishuō zuì zhòngyào.
  • English: Family is the most important thing to me.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the `对…来说 (duì… láishuō)` structure to specify the subject (“to me”) and `最 (zuì)` to indicate the highest degree (“most”).
• Example 3:
  • 老师，您有什么重要的事情要宣布吗？
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī, nín yǒu shénme zhòngyào de shìqing yào xuānbù ma?
  • English: Teacher, do you have any important matters to announce?
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a polite, formal question. 重要 is used here to describe `事情 (shìqing)`, meaning “matters” or “affairs.”
• Example 4:
  • 在学习汉语的过程中，发音非常重要。
  • Pinyin: Zài xuéxí Hànyǔ de guòchéng zhōng, fāyīn fēicháng zhòngyào.
  • English: In the process of learning Chinese, pronunciation is extremely important.
  • Analysis: Here, `非常 (fēicháng)` is used to intensify the meaning, translating to “extremely” or “especially.”
• Example 5:
  • 他是公司里的一位重要人物。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì gōngsī lǐ de yí wèi zhòngyào rénwù.
  • English: He is an important figure in the company.
  • Analysis: 重要 can be used to describe people, especially when referring to their status or influence. `人物 (rénwù)` means “figure” or “personage.”
• Example 6:
  • 别忘了，明天有一个重要的会议。
  • Pinyin: Bié wàng le, míngtiān yǒu yí ge zhòngyào de huìyì.
  • English: Don't forget, there is an important meeting tomorrow.
  • Analysis: A common reminder in a work or school context.
• Example 7:
  • 这次考试的重要性不言而喻。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì kǎoshì de zhòngyào xìng bùyán'éryù.
  • English: The importance of this exam is self-evident.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses `重要性 (zhòngyào xìng)`, the noun form, which means “importance” or “significance.”
• Example 8:
  • 这份文件包含了重要信息，请保管好。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn wénjiàn bāohán le zhòngyào xìnxī, qǐng bǎoguǎn hǎo.
  • English: This document contains important information, please keep it safe.
  • Analysis: Shows 重要 used to describe abstract nouns like `信息 (xìnxī)` (information).
• Example 9:
  • 我觉得经验比学历更重要。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ juéde jīngyàn bǐ xuélì gèng zhòngyào.
  • English: I think experience is more important than educational background.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the comparative structure `A 比 B 更… (A bǐ B gèng…)` to compare the importance of two things.
• Example 10:
  • 保护环境是一项重要的全球性任务。
  • Pinyin: Bǎohù huánjìng shì yí xiàng zhòngyào de quánqiú xìng rènwù.
  • English: Protecting the environment is an important global task.
  • Analysis: This example demonstrates the use of 重要 in a large-scale, formal context.

• “重要 (zhòngyào)” vs. “要紧 (yàojǐn)”: This is a common point of confusion.
  • 重要 (zhòngyào) refers to significance, value, and long-term consequence. (e.g., Education is important).
  • 要紧 (yàojǐn) often implies urgency or seriousness in a specific situation. It's closer to “critical” or “urgent.” (e.g., “Is it urgent?” - `要紧吗？`).
  • Incorrect: `教育很要紧。` (While not grammatically impossible, `教育很重要` is far more natural for expressing the general value of education).
  • Correct: `快走吧，有要紧事！` (Let's go quickly, there's something urgent!)
• It's an Adjective, not a Verb: English speakers might be tempted to use “important” like a verb. You cannot say `我重要这件事 (wǒ zhòngyào zhè jiàn shì)`. You must use a structure like `这件事很重要 (zhè jiàn shì hěn zhòngyào)` or `我认为这件事很重要 (wǒ rènwéi zhè jiàn shì hěn zhòngyào)`.

• 要紧 (yàojǐn) - A close relative of 重要 that emphasizes urgency or seriousness more than general significance.
• 关键 (guānjiàn) - More specific than 重要. It means “crucial,” “key,” or “pivotal,” referring to the one thing that makes all the difference.
• 主要 (zhǔyào) - Means “main,” “primary,” or “chief.” It's used to rank things by order of importance rather than just stating that something is important.
• 重大 (zhòngdà) - A more formal and powerful version of 重要. It means “major,” “momentous,” or “significant” and is used for large-scale events, discoveries, or decisions (e.g., a “重大突破” - major breakthrough).
• 次要 (cìyào) - The direct antonym of 重要, meaning “secondary” or “less important.”
• 必需 (bìxū) - Means “necessary” or “essential.” This focuses on something being a requirement, which is a type of importance.
• 核心 (héxīn) - Means “core” or “nucleus.” It describes something that is centrally important to a system or idea.