zung6 jiu3重要

Jyutpingzung6 jiu3

Yalejuhng yiu

形容詞Very common

Definition

Important, significant, or critical; of great value or consequence.

colloquialdescriptions

How it's used

While this term is used in both formal and informal contexts, it often carries a weightier tone than the more casual 緊要. It is frequently paired with the intensifier 好 to emphasize the degree of significance in daily speech. Unlike Mandarin where it can sometimes feel slightly stiff, it is perfectly natural in everyday Cantonese when discussing priorities or urgent matters.

Examples

le1呢gin2件si6事hou2好zung6重jiu3要，nei5你jat1一ding6定jiu3要gei3記zyu6住。

This matter is very important, you must remember it.

nei5你jau5有mou5冇me1咩zung6重jiu3要je5嘢jiu3要tung4同ngo5我gong2講aa4呀？

Do you have anything important to tell me?

Common phrases

zung6重jiu3要gwaan1關tau4頭

critical juncture

zung6重jiu3要jan4人mat2物

important person

Common mistake

Learners often confuse it with 緊要. While both mean important, 緊要 can also imply urgency or severity, such as in 情況好緊要, whereas 重要 focuses more on the inherent value or necessity of a person or thing.