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
Similar idioms about life philosophy
急功近利
jí gōng jìn lì
Seek quick success and immediate benefit
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急于求成
jí yú qiú chéng
Be impatient for success; rush things
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不务正业
bù wù zhèng yè
Idle and irresponsible
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恻隐之心
cè yǐn zhī xīn
Compassion; empathy for others
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赤子之心
chì zǐ zhī xīn
Pure and sincere heart
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微不足道
wēi bù zú dào
Too slight to weigh at all
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得不偿失
dé bù cháng shī
Gains not worth the cost or sacrifice
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功成身退
gōng chéng shēn tuì
Retire after achieving success
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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”.