轻重缓急 (qīng zhòng huǎn jí) — relative importance and urgency; order of priority

Definition

A chengyu meaning the relative importance and urgency of matters — the basis for setting priorities. Compare with 优先 (yōuxiān), a more compact word for 'priority' itself.

idiom
relative importance and urgencyorder of priority

Examples

  • 轻重缓急。
    Zuò rèn hé shì qing dōu yào fēn qīng qīng zhòng huǎn jí.
    In everything you do, you must distinguish priorities.
  • 轻重缓急。
    Tā àn qīng zhòng huǎn jí ān pái le suǒ yǒu de gōng zuò.
    He arranged all the work according to priority.
  • 轻重缓急，。
    Chǔ lǐ wèn tí shí yào kǎo lǜ qīng zhòng huǎn jí, bù néng zhī zuò jǐn jí de shì.
    When handling problems, you must consider priorities and not just do urgent things.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

轻重light and heavy
轻qīnglight重zhòngheavy
联合Side by side
缓急slow and urgent
缓huǎnslow急jíurgent
联合Side by side

轻重缓急 pairs '轻重' with '缓急' to mark priority.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 輕; 轻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng輕qīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輕 pairs 車, a carriage, with 巠 to give the sound; it originally named a light carriage. The simplified 轻 is only a later shorthand.

Open 轻 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
東
東dōng重zhòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

重 developed from a picture of a man carrying a bag, with 人 for the man and 東 for the bag; a later ground element was folded into the form.

Open 重 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 緩; 缓 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
爰
爰yuán緩huǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 緩 pairs 糸 (silk) with 爰, which gives the sound; the simplified 缓 is a later shorthand.

Open 缓 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí急jí
Same sound today

急 pairs 心 (heart) with 及, which gives the sound.

Open 急 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesOrder & Arrangement

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