“Important” in Japanese is 大切 (たいせつ), pronounced taisetsu.
Pronunciation
The word has 4 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Important or precious. 大切な人 is someone dear to you.
Example sentences
- 家族は大切です。かぞくはたいせつです。Family is important.
- 大切にしてください。たいせつにしてください。Please take good care of it.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 大切. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Before a noun | 大切な〜 たいせつな〜 | important (thing) |
| Polite present | 大切です たいせつです | is important |
| Negative | 大切じゃないです たいせつじゃないです | isn’t important |
| Past | 大切でした たいせつでした | was important |
| Past negative | 大切じゃなかったです たいせつじゃなかったです | wasn’t important |
| Adverb (に) | 大切に たいせつに | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say important in Japanese?
Important in Japanese is 大切 (たいせつ), pronounced “taisetsu”.
How do you write important in Japanese?
It's written 大切 with kanji, or たいせつ in hiragana. Both are read taisetsu.
Is 大切 on the JLPT?
Yes. 大切 (taisetsu) is a common word at JLPT N4 level, so it's worth learning early.