重要 (zhòngyào)

重要 describes something that carries great weight, consequence, or significance.

Meanings

[adjective] Important; significant; crucial.

Example Sentences

健康是最重要的事情。 Jiànkāng shì zuì zhòngyào de shìqíng. Health is the most important thing.

这次会议非常重要，请不要缺席。 Zhè cì huìyì fēicháng zhòngyào, qǐng bùyào quēxí. This meeting is very important; please do not be absent.

学好外语对未来很重要。 Xué hǎo wàiyǔ duì wèilái hěn zhòngyào. Learning a foreign language well is very important for the future.

他在公司里扮演着重要的角色。 Tā zài gōngsī lǐ bànyǎn zhe zhòngyào de juésè. He plays an important role in the company.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
重要性	importance; significance
重要角色	important role
非常重要	very important
重要决定	important decision
起重要作用	to play an important role

Usage Notes

重要 is one of the most versatile adjectives in Chinese. The noun form 重要性 (zhòngyàoxìng) means "importance." The pattern 对...很重要 ("important to/for ...") is extremely common at this level.

Memory Hook

重 means "heavy/weighty" and 要 means "necessary/want" — something so weighty that everyone needs it is truly important.