紧要 (jǐn yào) is an adjective meaning 'urgent' or 'critical', describing something that demands immediate attention or has high importance. The first character 紧 (jǐn) conveys tightness, tension, or urgency—like a tightened rope—while 要 (yào) means 'essential' or 'necessary', derived from its core sense of 'to need' or 'to require'. Together, they form a compact, formal compound emphasizing both time-sensitivity and vital significance.

This word is commonly used in written Chinese and formal spoken contexts—such as news reports, medical advisories, official notices, or workplace instructions—where gravity and immediacy must be clearly conveyed. It often modifies nouns (e.g., 紧要关头 'critical moment', 紧要任务 'urgent task') and frequently appears in set phrases rather than standalone predicative use. While similar to 急 (jí) or 紧急 (jǐn jí), 紧要 carries a stronger nuance of consequential importance—not just speed, but stakes.