Meaning of 重要
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- important; significant; major
How to use 重要
重要 is a very common adjective. It often comes after 很 (hěn) or before a noun with 的 (de). Example: 健康很重要。(Jiànkāng hěn zhòngyào.) Health is important.
重 (zhòng) means heavy and 要 (yào) means to need or want. Something that is heavy and needed is important.
Common mistake: 重 has two readings. In 重要 it is zhòng (heavy, important), but in 重新 (chóngxīn) it is chóng (again), so do not mix them up. Also, 要 here is fourth tone yào, not first tone yāo as in 要求 (yāoqiú).
重要 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
重 zhòng · heavy · 9 strokes
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要 yào · to want · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 重要.
| 不要 | bùyào | don't!; must not |
| 只要 | zhǐyào | so long as; provided; if |
| 就要 | jiùyào | will; shall |
| 要求 | yāoqiú | to request; to require |
| 重新 | chóngxīn | again; once more; re- |
| 主要 | zhǔyào | main; principal; major; primary |
| 重复 | chóngfù | to repeat; to duplicate |
| 重点 | zhòngdiǎn | to recount (e.g. results of election); to re-evaluate |
| 快要 | kuàiyào | nearly at the point of (doing sth); about to (do sth) |
| 重视 | zhòngshì | to attach importance to sth; to value |
| 需要 | xūyào | to need; to want; to demand; to require; needs |
| 要是 | yàoshi | (coll.) if |
Questions about 重要
What does 重要 mean?
重要 (zhòngyào) means "important; significant; major" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 重要?
重要 is made of 2 characters: 重 (9 strokes), 要 (9 strokes). That is 18 strokes in total.
Is 重要 an HSK word?
Yes. 重要 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 重要 and 主要?
重要 means important or significant. 主要 (zhǔyào) means main or primary, the biggest part among several. A minor detail can still be 重要, but it would not be 主要.
How do I say "the most important thing" in Chinese?
Say 最重要的是 (zuì zhòngyào de shì), followed by the point. For example, 最重要的是你开心。(Zuì zhòngyào de shì nǐ kāixīn.) The most important thing is that you are happy.