重要

zhòng yào

important

HSK Level 1

Example Sentences

这个词很重要。

zhè ge cí hěn zhòng yào.

This word is very important.

学习汉语很重要。

xué xí hàn yǔ hěn zhòng yào.

Learning Chinese is very important.

健康很重要。

jiàn kāng hěn zhòng yào.

Health is very important.

Synonyms

紧要 (jǐnyào)

urgent

首要 (shǒuyào)

primary

关键 (guānjiàn)

crucial

Antonyms

不重要 (bù zhòngyào)

unimportant

次要 (cìyào)

secondary

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Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 重要 (zhòngyào) is composed of two characters: 重 (zhòng), meaning "heavy" or "important," and 要 (yào), meaning "essential" or "important." Together, these characters convey the idea of something that is both weighty and crucial.The earliest known use of the word 重要 dates back to the Warring States period (475-221 BCE), when it was used in the sense of "important" or "significant." Over time, the word took on a more specific meaning of "important in terms of weight or value," and it is now commonly used to describe things that are of great significance or consequence.The word 重要 is often used in a variety of contexts, including:- To describe something that is important in terms of its weight or value- To describe something that is important in terms of its significance or impact- To describe something that is important in terms of its urgency or necessityFor example, the word 重要 can be used to describe a heavy object, an important event, or an urgent task. It is a versatile word that can be used to convey a variety of meanings, and it is an essential part of the Chinese language.