重要

• Reading: じゅうよう
• Romaji: juuyou
• Kanji breakdown: 重 (juu) — heavy, important; 要 (you) — essential, necessary
• Pronunciation: /dʑɯː.joː/

Meaning

Important; essential; significant. Describes something of great value or consequence.

A na-adjective that is one of the most common ways to express importance in Japanese: 重要な役割 (an important role), 重要な問題 (a significant issue). More formal and weighty than 大事 or 大切, which carry warmer, more personal nuances. Frequently used in news, business, and academic writing.

Examples

1. 健康は人生で最も重要なことだ。 Health is the most important thing in life.
2. この会議で重要な決定がされる予定だ。 An important decision is expected to be made at this meeting.
3. 彼はチームの中で重要な役割を果たしている。 He plays an important role on the team.

Usage Guide

Context: business, academic, news

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Compound of 重 (juu, heavy/important) and 要 (you, essential/necessary). Together, 'heavy and essential' — something that demands serious attention.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal