# 当务之急

dāng wù zhī jí

The most pressing task at present

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** The urgent matter among current duties

**Traditional Chinese:** 當務之急

**Register:** General · spoken & written

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Set a priority among things that need attention.

It identifies the next priority rather than every important long-term aim.

## The image & its use

A group may have several worthwhile tasks but only enough time to start one. This expression singles out the matter that most needs attention now. For a workshop, that could be confirming the venue before choosing decorations; for a study project, it might be organizing the basic sources before adding illustrations. The phrase is useful for turning a broad list into a sequence. Explain why the chosen task comes first, and revisit the priority if the circumstances change.

## Examples

确认活动场地是当务之急。

### Traditional Chinese

確認活動場地是當務之急。

què rèn huó dòng chǎng dì shì dāng wù zhī jí 。

Confirming the venue is the most pressing task.

我们的当务之急是把资料分类整理好。

### Traditional Chinese

我們的當務之急是把資料分類整理好。

wǒ men de dāng wù zhī jí shì bǎ zī liào fēn lèi zhěng lǐ hǎo 。

Our immediate priority is sorting and organizing the information.

先让说明清楚易懂，才是当务之急。

### Traditional Chinese

先讓說明清楚易懂，才是當務之急。

xiān ràng shuō míng qīng chǔ yì dǒng ， cái shì dāng wù zhī jí 。

Making the instructions clear is the immediate priority.

对这个项目而言，安排分工是当务之急。

### Traditional Chinese

對這個項目而言，安排分工是當務之急。

duì zhè ge xiàng mù ér yán ， ān pái fēn gōng shì dāng wù zhī jí 。

For this project, assigning responsibilities is the most pressing task.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1268&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E7%95%B6%E5%8B%99%E4%B9%8B%E6%80%A5)

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