当务之急
当务之急 (dāng wù zhī jí) literally means “current matter's urgency” and expresses “most urgent priority requiring immediate attention”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: dang wu zhi ji, dang wu zhi ji,当务之急 meaning, 当务之急 in english
Most urgent priority requiring immediate attention
Pronunciation: dāng wù zhī jí Literal meaning: Current matter's urgency
Origin & Usage
Han Dynasty crisis management documents introduced this method of identifying the current (当) matter's (务) most pressing urgency (之急). Tang Dynasty writers expanded it beyond governance into general priority setting. The phrase elegantly captures both temporal immediacy and relative importance, making it invaluable in emergency response and project management.
When to Use
Situation: Securing temporary shelter became the immediate priority after the earthquake
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 当务之急 mean in English?
当务之急 (dāng wù zhī jí) literally translates to “Current matter's urgency” and is used to express “Most urgent priority requiring immediate attention”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 当务之急 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving most urgent priority requiring immediate attention.
What is the pinyin for 当务之急?
The pinyin pronunciation for 当务之急 is “dāng wù zhī jí”.