重要 (zhòngyào) — important; significant
HSK 5 | adjective | of great importance, significance, or consequence
重要 (zhòngyào)
重要 is one of the most fundamental adjectives in Chinese, meaning important, significant, or crucial, and is used pervasively across all registers to describe people, things, decisions, or issues of great consequence.
Meanings
- [adjective] important; significant; crucial; of great consequence
Example Sentences
健康是人生中最重要的财富，没有健康就谈不上其他。 Jiànkāng shì rénshēng zhōng zuì zhòngyào de cáifù, méiyǒu jiànkāng jiù tán bu shàng qítā. Health is the most important wealth in life; without health, nothing else matters.
这次会议将讨论几项重要的政策调整，涉及多个部门。 Zhè cì huìyì jiāng tǎolùn jǐ xiàng zhòngyào de zhèngcè tiáozhěng, shèjí duō gè bùmén. This meeting will discuss several important policy adjustments involving multiple departments.
他在谈判中发挥了重要的作用，帮助双方达成协议。 Tā zài tánpàn zhōng fāhuīle zhòngyào de zuòyòng, bāngzhù shuāngfāng dáchéng xiéyì. He played an important role in the negotiations, helping both sides reach an agreement.
早期教育对儿童大脑发育具有极其重要的影响。 Zǎoqī jiàoyù duì értóng dànǎo fāyù jùyǒu jíqí zhòngyào de yǐngxiǎng. Early education has an extremely important influence on children's brain development.
这份报告揭示了一个重要的规律：投资教育的回报率最高。 Zhè fèn bàogào jiēshìle yīgè zhòngyào de guīlǜ: tóuzī jiàoyù de huíbào lǜ zuì gāo. This report revealed an important pattern: the return on investment in education is the highest.
维护全球气候稳定是当代人最重要的历史责任之一。 Wéihù quánqiú qìhòu wěndìng shì dāngdài rén zuì zhòngyào de lìshǐ zérèn zhī yī. Maintaining global climate stability is one of the most important historical responsibilities of the current generation.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 非常重要 (fēicháng zhòngyào) | very important |
| 重要意义 (zhòngyào yìyì) | important significance |
| 重要作用 (zhòngyào zuòyòng) | important role |
| 重要因素 (zhòngyào yīnsù) | important factor |
| 至关重要 (zhìguān zhòngyào) | of crucial importance |
| 重要决定 (zhòngyào juédìng) | important decision |
Usage Notes
重要 is a foundational adjective that learners encounter early, but at B2 level it is important to use more precise or emphatic synonyms in context. 关键 (guānjiàn, key/critical) and 核心 (héxīn, core/central) are stronger alternatives when the element is pivotal. 至关重要 (zhìguān zhòngyào, of crucial/vital importance) is the emphatic form commonly seen in formal writing.
In spoken Chinese, 很重要 (very important) is the most common pattern, while in written texts 具有重要意义 (has important significance) and 发挥重要作用 (plays an important role) are standard formal collocations.
Memory Hook
重 (heavy/weighty) + 要 (to need/require) = something that weighs heavily on what is needed -- important.