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.
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
Mencius says that the wise know everything, and yet treat what the present business (当务) requires as the urgent thing (之急); the benevolent love everyone, and yet make attending to the worthy their first task. The claim is about ordering, not about limits — nothing is being given up, something is being done first. Modern usage names the item that has to be dealt with before anything else can be.
Examples
English: "Securing temporary shelter became the immediate priority after the earthquake"
Chinese: 地震后，确保临时住所成为当务之急
Related Chinese Idioms
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yī bō sān zhé
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gǎi xié guī zhèng
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Shirk effort by preference
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Push far enough and it turns
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yè láng zì dà
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yīn guǒ bào yìng
Good and evil deeds repaid in kind
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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: Securing temporary shelter became the immediate priority after the earthquake
What is the pinyin for 当务之急?
The pinyin pronunciation for 当务之急 is “dāng wù zhī jí”.