Meaning
This four-character idiom refers to the most urgent or important task at hand that must be dealt with immediately. It emphasizes prioritization and the need to address critical matters before anything else. The phrase is commonly used in formal contexts, policy discussions, and organizational planning.
Usage
Native speakers use this idiom in both written and spoken formal contexts to highlight what needs immediate attention. It often appears in business meetings, government reports, and strategic planning discussions. The phrase carries a sense of urgency and importance, suggesting that other matters should be set aside temporarily.
Examples
- 01在经济危机中，稳定就业成为政府的当务之急。, .During the economic crisis, stabilizing employment became the government's top priority.
- 02提高产品质量是我们公司当务之急，其他问题可以稍后再谈。, .Improving product quality is our company's urgent matter; other issues can be discussed later.
Characters
Common collocations
- 当务之急是......the urgent matter is...
- 解决当务之急to solve the urgent matter
- 成为当务之急to become a top priority
Antonyms
Origin
This idiom comes from classical Chinese, where 当务 means 'current task' and 之急 means 'the urgent one.' The structure emphasizes that among all current tasks, this is the most pressing.