当务之急

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: dāng wù zhī jí
• English Translation: Urgent matter at hand, pressing issue, immediate priority
• Idiom Composition: 「当」（Should, ought to）＋「务」（Duty, task）＋「之」（Of (possessive particle)）＋「急」（Urgent, pressing）
• Meaning: An urgent task or matter that must be addressed immediately and given top priority. Among many issues, it refers to the most pressing and important problem.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「当务之急」 contains the following nuances:

• Urgency: Indicates a situation requiring swift action before anything else.
• Importance: Suggests that the issue is not only urgent but also significantly impacts the overall situation.
• Priority: Emphasizes that among many tasks, this should be addressed first and foremost.

3. Usage

「当务之急」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Presenting issues: Used to clearly indicate the most urgent issue to be prioritized in a given situation.
  • Example:「解决环境污染问题是当前的当务之急。」
    （Solving the environmental pollution problem is the current urgent priority.）
• Guideline for action: Used as a guideline to indicate priority when unsure about what to do.
  • Example:「提高产品质量是我们的当务之急。」
    （Improving product quality is our top priority.）
• Focus of discussion: Used to clarify what should be the focus in discussions or meetings.
  • Example:「让我们先讨论一下当务之急是什么。」
    （Let's first discuss what the urgent priority is.）

Additional Examples:

1. 面对自然灾害，救援受灾群众是当务之急。
   （In the face of natural disasters, rescuing the affected people is the urgent priority.）
2. 对于新成立的公司来说，打开市场是当务之急。
   （For a newly established company, opening up the market is the top priority.）
3. 在激烈的市场竞争中，企业降低成本、提高效率是当务之急。
   （In fierce market competition, reducing costs and improving efficiency are the urgent priorities for companies.）
4. 改善民生、提高人民生活水平是政府的当务之急。
   （Improving people's livelihood and raising living standards are the government's urgent priorities.）
5. 培养创新型人才是国家发展的当务之急。
   （Cultivating innovative talents is the urgent priority for national development.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Influence of Confucianism: '当务之急' originates from the words of Mencius, an ancient Chinese philosopher, reflecting the Confucian idea of discerning priorities and addressing important matters first.
• Application in modern society: Even today, the concept of '当务之急' is valued across various fields such as business, politics, and education. Clearly defining priorities is essential to effectively utilize limited time and resources.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 燃眉之急 (rán méi zhī jí): An extremely urgent situation, as if one's eyebrows are on fire.
  • 迫在眉睫 (pò zài méi jié): A crisis that is imminent and close at hand.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 无关紧要 (wú guān jǐn yào): Unimportant, trivial matters.
  • 无关痛痒 (wú guān tòng yǎng): Matters that are neither painful nor itchy; insignificant and irrelevant.

6. Summary

'当务之急' is a crucial concept for modern society. In a world overflowing with numerous tasks and information, the ability to identify what truly matters and prioritize accordingly is essential for both individuals and organizations. Understanding and effectively using this idiom can help achieve goals more efficiently and effectively.