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要紧 (yào jǐn) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

要紧 (yào jǐn) is a Chinese word: important, urgent. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 要紧

形 xíng adjective

important, urgent

你的健康最要紧。

nǐ de jiàn kāng zuì yào jǐn

Your health is most important.

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Word breakdown

要 yào — essential, necessary

Words with this character (28)
  • 1 不要 bú yào — don't HSK 1
    • 不 negation, expressing prohibition
    • 要 imperative mood marker, forming a command
    Example

    不要担心，一切都会好的。

    bú yào dān xīn yí qiè dōu huì hǎo de

    Don't worry, everything will be fine.

  • 2 快要 kuài yào — about to HSK 2
    • 快 soon, quickly (indicating temporal proximity)
    • 要 will, going to (indicating futurity)
    Example

    天快要黑了。

    tiān kuài yào hēi le

    It's about to get dark.

  • 3 主要 zhǔ yào — main HSK 3
    • 主 main, principal, chief
    • 要 important, essential
    Example

    这是我主要的工作。

    zhè shì wǒ zhǔ yào de gōng zuò

    This is my main job.

  • 4 只要 zhǐ yào — as long as HSK 3
    • 只 only, emphasizing the sufficiency of a single condition
    • 要 need/require, expressing what is necessary
    Example

    只要努力学习，就能考上大学。

    zhǐ yào nú lì xué xí jiù néng kǎo shàng dà xué

    As long as you study hard, you can get into university.

  • 5 重要 zhòng yào — important HSK 3
    • 重 weighty, significant
    • 要 essential, necessary
    Example

    这是一个重要的决定。

    zhè shì yí gè zhòng yào de jué dìng

    This is an important decision.

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  • 6 需要 xū yào — need HSK 3
    • 需 need, require
    • 要 want, need, essential
    Example

    我需要帮助。

    wǒ xū yào bāng zhù

    I need help.

  • 7 将要 jiāng yào — be going to HSK 4
    • 将 about to, approaching future
    • 要 will, intention
    Example

    会议将要开始了。

    huì yì jiāng yào kāi shǐ le

    The meeting is about to start.

  • 8 要是 yào shì — if HSK 4
    • 要 contributes the conditional/hypothetical sense (originally 'to want/need')
    • 是 combines with 要 to form the complete conditional conjunction
    Example

    要是明天下雨，我就不去了。

    yào shì míng tiān xià yǔ wǒ jiù bù qù le

    If it rains tomorrow, I won't go.

  • 9 不要紧 bú yào jǐn — it doesn't matter HSK 5
    • 不 not; provides negation
    • 要 important/need; forms 'important' with 紧
    • 紧 tight/urgent/critical; combines with 要 to mean 'important'
    Example

    你别担心，不要紧的。

    nǐ bié dān xīn bú yào jǐn de

    Don't worry, it doesn't matter.

  • 10 必要 bì yào — necessary HSK 5
    • 必 must, certainly (conveys inevitability)
    • 要 need, important (conveys requirement)
    Example

    如果必要，我们可以改变计划。

    rú guǒ bì yào wǒ men kě yǐ gǎi biàn jì huà

    If necessary, we can change the plan.

  • 11 要不是 yào bù shì — if it were not for, but for HSK 5
    • 要 forms part of the conditional phrase (originally 'want/will')
    • 不 negation marker 'not'
    • 是 completes the conditional construction (originally 'to be')
    Example

    要不是你帮忙，我完不成这个项目。

    yào bù shì nǐ bāng máng wǒ wán bù chéng zhè ge xiàng mù

    If it were not for your help, I couldn't complete this project.

  • 12 要不然 yào bù rán — otherwise HSK 5
    • 要 introduces a conditional sense, 'if one needs/wants'
    • 不 negation, 'not'
    • 然 so, thus; completes 'if not so' meaning
    Example

    快点走吧，要不然会迟到的。

    kuài diǎn zǒu ba yào bù rán huì chí dào de

    Hurry up, otherwise we'll be late.

  • 13 至关重要 zhì guān zhòng yào — crucial HSK 6
    • 至 reaching the extreme; utmost
    • 关 critical concern; crucial point
    • 重 weighty; important
    • 要 essential; necessary
    Example

    这个问题至关重要，我们必须认真对待。

    zhè ge wèn tí zhì guān zhòng yào wǒ men bì xū rèn zhēn duì dài

    This issue is crucial, we must treat it seriously.

  • 14 要么 yào me — either...or HSK 6
    • 要 forms the first part of the conjunction expressing alternatives
    • 么 completes the conjunction structure to present alternatives
    Example

    你要么留下，要么离开。

    nǐ yào me liú xia yào me lí kāi

    You either stay or leave.

  • 15 要点 yào diǎn — key point HSK 6
    • 要 important, essential
    • 点 point, aspect
    Example

    老师总结了课文的要点。

    lǎo shī zǒng jié le kè wén de yào diǎn

    The teacher summarized the key points of the text.

  • 16 要素 yào sù — element HSK 6
    • 要 essential, important, key
    • 素 element, component, factor
    Example

    创新是企业发展的重要要素。

    chuàng xīn shì qǐ yè fā zhǎn de zhòng yào yào sù

    Innovation is an important element of enterprise development.

  • 17 首要 shǒu yào — primary HSK 6
    • 首 first, foremost
    • 要 important, essential
    Example

    安全是首要任务。

    ān quán shì shǒu yào rèn wu

    Safety is the primary task.

  • 18 摘要 zhāi yào — abstract; summary HSK 7
    • 摘 to extract; to pick out
    • 要 essential points; key information
    Example

    每篇论文都需要写一个摘要。

    měi piān lùn wén dōu xū yào xiě yí gè zhāi yào

    Every paper needs to have an abstract written.

  • 19 无关紧要 wú guān jǐn yào — unimportant, insignificant HSK 7
    • 无 without, not having
    • 关 relation, connection
    • 紧 urgent, important
    • 要 important, essential
    Example

    这些细节无关紧要，我们应该关注重点。

    zhè xiē xì jié wú guān jǐn yào wǒ men yīng gāi guān zhù zhòng diǎn

    These details are unimportant, we should focus on the main points.

  • 20 次要 cì yào — secondary HSK 7
    • 次 secondary, subordinate in rank or importance
    • 要 important, essential (modifying the level of importance)
    Example

    这是次要问题，我们先解决主要问题。

    zhè shì cì yào wèn tí wǒ men xiān jiě jué zhǔ yào wèn tí

    This is a secondary issue, let's solve the main problem first.

  • 21 简要 jiǎn yào — concise, brief HSK 7
    • 简 brief, simple, concise
    • 要 essential, main points
    Example

    请简要说明你的想法。

    qǐng jiǎn yào shuō míng nǐ de xiǎng fǎ

    Please briefly explain your thoughts.

  • 22 纪要 jì yào — minutes; summary HSK 7
    • 纪 record, chronicle
    • 要 essential points, key aspects
    Example

    秘书正在整理会议纪要。

    mì shū zhèng zài zhěng lǐ huì yì jì yào

    The secretary is organizing the meeting minutes.

  • 23 纲要 gāng yào — outline HSK 7
    • 纲 main framework, guiding structure
    • 要 essential points, key elements
    Example

    政府发布了五年发展纲要

    zhèng fǔ fā bù le wǔ nián fā zhǎn gāng yào

    The government published a five-year development outline

  • 24 要命 yào mìng — to be awful; to be unbearable; to be terrible HSK 7
    • 要 to demand; to take (emphasizing severity)
    • 命 life (suggesting life-threatening severity)
    Example

    牙疼得要命。

    yá téng de yào mìng

    The toothache is unbearable.

  • 25 要好 yào hǎo — to be on good terms, close, friendly HSK 7
    • 要 important, significant (indicating closeness)
    • 好 good (indicating positive relationship quality)
    Example

    我和他从小就很要好。

    wǒ hé tā cóng xiǎo jiù hěn yào hǎo

    He and I have been close friends since childhood.

  • 26 要害 yào hài — vital point HSK 7
    • 要 vital, essential, critical
    • 害 vulnerable point (where harm is most effective)
    Example

    他一拳击中了对手的要害。

    tā yì quán jī zhòng le duì shǒu de yào hài

    He struck his opponent's vital point with one punch.

  • 27 要强 yào qiáng — strong-willed HSK 7
    • 要 to want/demand (of oneself)
    • 强 strong/not wanting to appear weak
    Example

    她很要强，从不服输。

    tā hěn yào qiáng cóng bù fú shū

    She is very strong-willed and never admits defeat.

  • 28 要领 yào lǐng — essentials HSK 7
    • 要 important, essential
    • 领 main point, gist
    Example

    他很快就掌握了游泳的要领。

    tā hěn kuài jiù zhǎng wò le yóu yǒng de yào lǐng

    He quickly grasped the essentials of swimming.

紧 jǐn — urgent, pressing

Words with this character (12)
Show more (+7)
  • 6 紧急 jǐn jí — urgent HSK 5
    • 紧 tight, tense (conveys pressure and tension)
    • 急 urgent, hasty (conveys immediacy and need for quick action)
    Example

    这是紧急情况，我们必须立即行动。

    zhè shì jǐn jí qíng kuàng wǒ men bì xū lì jí xíng dòng

    This is an urgent situation, we must act immediately.

  • 7 加紧 jiā jǐn — to step up, to intensify HSK 7
    • 加 to add, to increase
    • 紧 urgent, tight, intense
    Example

    我们要加紧工作进度。

    wǒ men yào jiā jǐn gōng zuò jìn dù

    We need to step up the work progress.

  • 8 无关紧要 wú guān jǐn yào — unimportant, insignificant HSK 7
    • 无 without, not having
    • 关 relation, connection
    • 紧 urgent, important
    • 要 important, essential
    Example

    这些细节无关紧要，我们应该关注重点。

    zhè xiē xì jié wú guān jǐn yào wǒ men yīng gāi guān zhù zhòng diǎn

    These details are unimportant, we should focus on the main points.

  • 9 紧凑 jǐn còu — compact HSK 7
    • 紧 tight, close together
    • 凑 gather together, fit closely
    Example

    他的日程安排得很紧凑。

    tā de rì chéng ān pái de hěn jǐn còu

    His schedule is very tightly arranged.

  • 10 紧缩 jǐn suō — tighten; contract; cut back HSK 7
    • 紧 tight; tense (emphasizes tightening/restricting)
    • 缩 shrink; contract (emphasizes reduction/contraction)
    Example

    政府决定紧缩财政支出。

    zhèng fǔ jué dìng jǐn suō cái zhèng zhī chū

    The government decided to tighten fiscal spending.

  • 11 紧缺 jǐn quē — in short supply HSK 7
    • 紧 tight, urgent (emphasizing the critical nature of the shortage)
    • 缺 lack, shortage (the core meaning of deficiency)
    Example

    这个地区水资源紧缺。

    zhè ge dì qū shuǐ zī yuán jǐn quē

    Water resources are in short supply in this area.

  • 12 紧迫 jǐn pò — urgent HSK 7
    • 紧 tight, tense (conveys constraint and tension)
    • 迫 pressing, compelling (conveys pressure and immediacy)
    Example

    时间很紧迫，我们必须快点。

    shí jiān hěn jǐn pò wǒ men bì xū kuài diǎn

    Time is urgent, we must hurry.

Structure & writing
1 要 yào — important; significant
Xpinyin
要 is a component in 1 characters
HSK 5
腰 yāo waist; the middle part of the body between the hips and ribs

consists of

1.1 覀 xī — cover/top radical, seen above characters
覀 is a component in 5 characters
HSK 1
要 yào important; significant
HSK 2
票 piào a ticket, note, or slip used as a voucher or credential
HSK 6
覆 fù to cover, to conceal
HSK 7
潭 tán deep pool; deep pit; by extension: deep 贾 jiǎ a surname
1.2 女 nǚ — female (opposite of 男)
女 is a component in 54 characters
HSK 1
奶 nǎi breast; mammary gland 她 tā she; her (third-person feminine pronoun) 好 hǎo good; satisfactory (opposite of 坏) 妈 mā mom; mother (reduplicated form) 妹 mèi younger sister (by blood or same generation)
Show more HSK 1 characters (+2)
姐 jiě older sister 要 yào important; significant
HSK 2
妻 qī wife (opposite of 夫) 始 shǐ beginning; start; initial (opposite of '末'/'终') 姓 xìng surname; family name
HSK 3
如 rú to suit; to follow; in accordance with 姨 yí maternal aunt (mother's sister); respectful term for women of one's mother's generation 婚 hūn to marry; for a man and woman to become husband and wife 安 ān safe, secure; opposite of '危' 接 jiē to approach; to come into contact with
HSK 4
姑 gū father's sister; aunt 娘 niáng (colloq.) mother
HSK 5
妇 fù married woman; general term for woman 姥 lǎo maternal grandfather (see 姥爷) 姿 zī appearance; looks 威 wēi authority or power that commands awe and respect 娱 yú joyful; happy
Show more HSK 5 characters (+2)
婆 pó old woman (often reduplicated) 媒 méi matchmaker; person who arranges marriages
HSK 6
妆 zhuāng to put on makeup; to adorn oneself with cosmetics 妙 miào beautiful; fine 妨 fáng to hinder, obstruct (连~碍) 委 wěi winding, tortuous; euphemistic 姻 yīn marriage
Show more HSK 6 characters (+7)
娃 wá child; infant 娶 qǔ to take a wife; to marry (of a man, opposite of 嫁) 婴 yīng infant, newborn baby 媳 xí daughter-in-law, son's wife 嫁 jià (of a woman) to marry, get married (opposite of 娶) 嫌 xián suspicion; grounds for suspicion 宴 yàn to host a banquet; to feast together
HSK 7
奴 nú slave (person oppressed, exploited, and controlled in old society) 奸 jiān hypocritical and cunning 妄 wàng absurd, irrational, wild 妒 dù to envy; to be jealous of someone superior 妖 yāo demon; monster; supernatural creature in myths and legends
Show more HSK 7 characters (+13)
妥 tuǒ appropriate; suitable 姆 mǔ nanny; person hired to care for children, the elderly, or manage household affairs, usually female (see "保姆") 姜 jiāng ginger plant (perennial herb with lance-shaped leaves and yellow-green flowers, rarely blooming) 娇 jiāo delicate, beautiful, and lovely (of women, children, flowers, etc.) 婉 wǎn indirect and gentle in expression 婪 lán greedy; insatiably covetous of wealth 婿 xù husband 媚 mèi beautiful; lovely 嫂 sǎo elder brother's wife; sister-in-law 嫉 jí to envy; to be jealous of someone better than oneself 嫩 nèn tender, delicate (of young growth); opposite of "老" 嬉 xī (lit.) to play; to frolic 耍 shuǎ to play; to have fun

Stroke order

2 紧 jǐn — tight, close together; opposite of 'loose'

紧 is not used as a component in any other character.

紧 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order