Translation guide
Expressing that something is important in Japanese involves choosing the right adjective or phrase based on nuance, formality, and whether you're describing objective significance, personal value, or necessity.
To say that something is important in a broad, neutral sense.
The most common and versatile word for 'important', often implying personal value or emotional significance. Can be used for both things and people.
家族はとても大切です。
Family is very important.
健康が一番大切だ。
Health is the most important thing.
More formal and objective than 大切. Often used for matters of public concern, business, or serious issues.
これは重要な問題です。
This is an important issue.
重要な書類をなくした。
I lost an important document.
Similar to 大切 but slightly more casual. Often used in spoken Japanese and can also mean 'precious' or 'valuable'.
友達は大事だよ。
Friends are important.
この本は私にとって大事なものです。
This book is important to me.
To emphasize that something is not just important but absolutely necessary or crucial.
Means 'indispensable' or 'essential'. Stronger than 重要. Often used in formal or technical contexts.
水は生命に不可欠です。
Water is essential for life.
この要素は成功に不可欠だ。
This element is crucial for success.
Means 'required' or 'mandatory'. Often used in contexts like requirements, qualifications, or system specifications.
To express that something matters or makes a difference, often in a more abstract or emotional sense.
The formal written form of 'is important'. Used in essays, reports, and formal speech.
教育は社会にとって重要である。
Education is important for society.
Literally 'has meaning', used to say something is meaningful or significant.
この仕事には意味がある。
This work is important (has meaning).
A casual way to say 'it's an important thing'. Often used in conversation.
約束を守るのは大事なことだ。
Keeping promises is important.
To express that something or someone is personally important or precious to a person.
Pattern meaning 'important to (someone)'. Replace 〜 with the person or entity.
私にとって家族が一番大切です。
Family is the most important thing to me.
More formal version of the above, using 重要.
この問題は会社にとって重要だ。
This issue is important for the company.
大切 (taisetsu) is the most common and carries emotional weight. 重要 (jūyō) is formal and objective, used for serious matters. 大事 (daiji) is similar to 大切 but more casual and often used in speech. For 'important to me', 大切 is preferred.
Using 重要 in everyday conversation can sound stiff or overly formal. Stick to 大切 or 大事 unless the context is clearly formal or technical.
A common phrase meaning 'cannot do without' or 'indispensable'. Slightly less formal than 不可欠.
彼はチームになくてはならない存在だ。
He is an indispensable member of the team.
This subject is required.