Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this phrase to point out what truly matters or what should be a priority in any given situation.
- Means: '[Subject] is important' or 'It is important that...'
- Used in: Giving advice, discussing values, or setting goals in professional meetings.
- Don't confuse: With '필요해요' (need), which implies a lack of something rather than its value.
내 수준에 맞는 설명:
뜻
Emphasizing the significance or necessity of something.
문화적 배경
The phrase is often used by elders to give 'kkondae' (preachy) advice. If someone starts a sentence with '인생에서는...이 중요해' (In life, ... is important), prepare for a long lecture. In meetings, saying '이게 {重要|중요}해요' is a polite way for a manager to tell subordinates to stop what they are doing and focus on a specific task. Protagonists often use this phrase to reject money in favor of love or justice, highlighting the 'moral weight' of their choices. The word is ubiquitous in workbooks. '중요!' or '별표 세 개!' (Three stars!) is marked next to exam-relevant content.
Use '가장' for impact
Always add '가장' (most) or '제일' (number one) before '중요해요' to sound more like a native speaker expressing a strong opinion.
Particle Choice
Don't forget that '이/가' is the default, but '은/는' is used for contrast. '돈은 중요해요 (but other things aren't as much)' vs '돈이 중요해요 (Money is the thing that is important)'.
Use '가장' for impact
Always add '가장' (most) or '제일' (number one) before '중요해요' to sound more like a native speaker expressing a strong opinion.
Particle Choice
Don't forget that '이/가' is the default, but '은/는' is used for contrast. '돈은 중요해요 (but other things aren't as much)' vs '돈이 중요해요 (Money is the thing that is important)'.
Softening the blow
When telling someone they are wrong, start with '그것도 중요하지만...' (That is also important, but...) to be more polite.
Verb Nominalization
Remember the formula: Verb Stem + 는 것 + 이 중요해요. This is the most useful pattern for B1 learners.
셀프 테스트
Fill in the blank with the correct particle and the phrase '중요해요'.
건강( ) ( ).
건강 ends in a consonant, so it takes the particle '이'.
Which sentence means 'It is important to study every day'?
Choose the most natural Korean sentence.
The '-는 것' pattern is the standard way to turn a verb into a subject for '중요해요'.
Complete the dialogue in a formal business setting.
A: 이번 계약에서 가장 신경 써야 할 부분이 무엇입니까? B: 신뢰를 ( ).
In a formal business setting (indicated by '무엇입니까'), the '-합니다' ending is most appropriate.
Match the priority to the situation.
Situation: You are going on a hike. What is important?
Comfortable shoes (편한 신발) are essential for hiking.
🎉 점수: /4
시각 학습 자료
중요 vs 소중
연습 문제 은행
5 연습 문제건강( ) ( ).
건강 ends in a consonant, so it takes the particle '이'.
Choose the most natural Korean sentence.
The '-는 것' pattern is the standard way to turn a verb into a subject for '중요해요'.
A: 이번 계약에서 가장 신경 써야 할 부분이 무엇입니까? B: 신뢰를 ( ).
In a formal business setting (indicated by '무엇입니까'), the '-합니다' ending is most appropriate.
Situation: You are going on a hike. What is important?
Comfortable shoes (편한 신발) are essential for hiking.
🎉 점수: /5
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문Technically yes, but it sounds cold. It implies the person is a useful tool or resource. Use '소중해요' for people you care about.
'중요하다' is general importance. '중대하다' is used for massive, grave, or historical importance (e.g., a national crisis).
Yes, but use the formal '중요합니다' to be safe in a professional environment.
Use '중요하지 않아요' or '안 중요해요'.
No, use '매우' or '정말' (very/really). '많이 중요해요' sounds a bit awkward; '매우 중요해요' is better.
That's a more idiomatic/slangy way to say 'Health is the best/most important.'
사소해요 (It's trivial/minor).
No, Korean is verb-final. The '중요해요' must come at the end.
Yes, '중요' is a noun, but it's almost always used with '-하다' to form an adjective.
Yes, very. You can even shorten it to '중요!' in a list of notes.
관련 표현
소중해요
similarPrecious / Dear
필요해요
similarTo be needed
심각해요
contrastTo be serious/grave
당연해요
builds onTo be natural/obvious
핵심적이에요
specialized formTo be core/pivotal
어디서 쓸까?
Job Interview
Interviewer: 우리 회사에서 일할 때 무엇이 가장 {重要|중요}하다고 생각하세요?
Applicant: 동료들과의 협력이 가장 {重要|중요}하다고 생각합니다.
Doctor's Visit
Doctor: 이제부터는 규칙적인 식사가 {重要|중요}해요.
Patient: 네, 알겠습니다. 건강이 제일 {重要|중요}하니까요.
Dating/Relationships
Person A: 너는 남자친구 고를 때 뭐가 {重要|중요}해?
Person B: 나는 성격이 제일 {重要|중요}해.
Study Group
Student A: 시험 공부 어디부터 할까?
Student B: 교수님이 강조하신 이 부분이 {重要|중요}해.
Travel Planning
Traveler A: 호텔 예약할 때 뭐가 제일 {重要|중요}해?
Traveler B: 위치가 {重要|중요}해. 지하철역 근처여야 해.
Cooking Class
Chef: 불 조절이 가장 {重要|중요}해요. 너무 세면 안 돼요.
Student: 아, 불 조절이 {重要|중요}하군요. 조심할게요.
암기하기
기억법
Think of 'Jung-yo' as 'Jungle Yoga'. In the jungle, doing yoga to stay calm is VERY IMPORTANT.
시각적 연상
Imagine a giant golden scale. On one side is a feather, and on the other side is the word {重要|중요} written in heavy lead. The scale tips instantly because importance has 'weight'.
Rhyme
Jung-yo hae-yo, don't say no / It's the way the priorities go!
Story
A king is dying and has one secret to tell his son. He points to a chest of gold and says 'This is not what's important.' He points to a sword and says 'This is not what's important.' Finally, he points to his heart and says '{重要|중요}해요' (This is what's important).
In Other Languages
In Japanese, the same Hanja is used (重要 - juuyou). In English, we use 'important' which comes from Latin 'importare' (to bring in), suggesting something that brings value into a situation.
Word Web
챌린지
Write down 3 things that are important to you today using the pattern: [Noun] + 이/가 중요해요.
Review this phrase on day 1, 3, and 7. Try to use it once in a real conversation about your hobbies or work.
발음
The 'ng' sound in 'jung' should be clear, and 'yo' is a simple glide.
The 'h' is soft, and 'ae' is like the 'e' in 'met'.
격식 수준 스펙트럼
건강이 {重要|중요}합니다. (General statement about health)
건강이 {重要|중요}해요. (General statement about health)
건강이 {重要|중요}해. (General statement about health)
건강이 장땡이야. (Slang: Health is everything/the best.) (General statement about health)
Derived from Middle Chinese 'djuŋ ièw'. The concept of 'weight' (重) being synonymous with 'value' is a pan-East Asian linguistic trait.
재미있는 사실
The Hanja {要|요} also means 'waist.' Just as the waist is the center of the body, '중요' things are the center of a situation.
문화 노트
The phrase is often used by elders to give 'kkondae' (preachy) advice. If someone starts a sentence with '인생에서는...이 중요해' (In life, ... is important), prepare for a long lecture.
“인생에서는 인맥이 가장 {重要|중요}해. (In life, connections are the most important.)”
In meetings, saying '이게 {重要|중요}해요' is a polite way for a manager to tell subordinates to stop what they are doing and focus on a specific task.
“이번 달은 매출보다 고객 만족도가 더 {重要|중요}합니다. (This month, customer satisfaction is more important than sales.)”
Protagonists often use this phrase to reject money in favor of love or justice, highlighting the 'moral weight' of their choices.
“나한테는 돈보다 자존심이 더 {重要|중요}해! (To me, my pride is more important than money!)”
The word is ubiquitous in workbooks. '중요!' or '별표 세 개!' (Three stars!) is marked next to exam-relevant content.
“이 공식은 시험에 꼭 나오니까 {重要|중요}해요. (This formula will definitely be on the exam, so it's important.)”
대화 시작하기
당신의 삶에서 가장 {重要|중요}한 세 가지는 무엇인가요?
좋은 친구가 되기 위해 무엇이 {重要|중요}하다고 생각하세요?
한국어를 배울 때 가장 {重要|중요}한 비결이 있나요?
성공적인 커리어를 위해 무엇이 {重要|중요}하다고 보십니까?
자주 하는 실수
나는 물이 {重要|중요}해요.
저에게는 물이 {重要|중요}해요.
L1 Interference
공부하기가 {重要|중요}해요.
공부하는 것이 {重要|중요}해요.
L1 Interference
이것이 {重要|중요}해요? (to a CEO)
이것이 {重要|중요}합니까?
L1 Interference
내 여자친구가 {重要|중요}해요.
내 여자친구가 소중해요.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Es importante
Korean requires nominalization of the verb before the adjective.
C'est important
Korean lacks the 'it is' dummy subject structure.
Es ist wichtig
German has more specific adjectives for different types of importance.
{重要|じゅうよう}입니다 (Juuyou desu)
Japanese often uses 'taisetsu' (precious/important) more frequently in daily speech than 'juuyou'.
من المهم (Min al-muhim)
Arabic uses a 'it is of the importance' structure.
很重要 (Hěn zhòngyào)
Chinese usually requires an intensifier like 'hěn' (very) to sound natural.
É importante
Portuguese uses the infinitive after 'importante' (É importante fazer), while Korean uses the '-는 것' form.
Это важно (Eto vazhno)
Russian uses 'Eto' (This) as a pointer, while Korean marks the subject with particles.
Spotted in the Real World
“내 소신, 패기... 그런 게 {重要|중요}해.”
The protagonist explains his life philosophy to his rival.
“어쩌면 누군가를 사랑하는 것보다 더 어려운 게 나 자신을 사랑하는 거야... 그게 {重要|중요}해.”
Lyrics about the importance of self-love.
“가장 완벽한 계획이 뭔지 알아? 무계획이야... 계획이 없으면 잘못될 일도 없거든. 그게 {重要|중요}해.”
The father explains his nihilistic view on planning to his son.
“#오운완 (오늘 운동 완료) 꾸준함이 {重要|중요}해요!”
A caption on a workout photo.
혼동하기 쉬운
Both translate to 'important' in some contexts.
Use '소중' for your heart (family, memories) and '중요' for your head (tasks, goals).
Learners use 'important' when they mean they 'need' something.
If you want to have it, use '필요'. If you want to say it's a priority, use '중요'.
자주 묻는 질문 (10)
Technically yes, but it sounds cold. It implies the person is a useful tool or resource. Use '소중해요' for people you care about.
usage contexts'중요하다' is general importance. '중대하다' is used for massive, grave, or historical importance (e.g., a national crisis).
comparisonsYes, but use the formal '중요합니다' to be safe in a professional environment.
practical tipsUse '중요하지 않아요' or '안 중요해요'.
grammar mechanicsNo, use '매우' or '정말' (very/really). '많이 중요해요' sounds a bit awkward; '매우 중요해요' is better.
grammar mechanicsThat's a more idiomatic/slangy way to say 'Health is the best/most important.'
cultural usage사소해요 (It's trivial/minor).
basic understandingNo, Korean is verb-final. The '중요해요' must come at the end.
grammar mechanicsYes, '중요' is a noun, but it's almost always used with '-하다' to form an adjective.
grammar mechanicsYes, very. You can even shorten it to '중요!' in a list of notes.
practical tips
