急務（きゅうむ、kyuumu）
- urgent task

The Japanese word 急務 （きゅうむ) signifies something that is an urgent matter, a pressing business, a matter of immediate necessity, or a top priority. It implies that swift action and attention are required. The term emphasizes the importance and immediacy of a task or situation. It suggests that delaying action could lead to negative consequences.

⚫︎安全対策は急務です。 Translation: Safety measures are an urgent matter. ⚫︎この問題への対応は急務とされています。 Translation: Addressing this problem is considered a top priority. ⚫︎会社の経営再建が急務である。 Translation: The company's financial reconstruction is an urgent matter.

This word is typically used in formal or semi-formal situations. It's appropriate when discussing matters that demand immediate attention, such as critical issues in business, politics, or any situation requiring prompt action. It is commonly used in written communication, such as reports, announcements, or official documents, to emphasize the urgency of a particular issue. In a conversation, it can be used to emphasize the importance of something and the need to address it quickly.

⚫︎The word 急務 is written in kanji as 急務. ⚫︎The reading is きゅうむ (hiragana). ⚫︎There are no variations in okurigana.

⚫︎緊急事態 (きんきゅうじたい): Emergency, urgent situation ⚫︎必須事項 (ひっすじこう): Essential item, necessary matter ⚫︎最優先事項 (さいゆうせんじこう): Highest priority matter ⚫︎喫緊の課題 (きっきんのかだい): Pressing issue

⚫︎While there aren't direct antonyms, words indicating less urgency could be considered opposite in meaning. ⚫︎Some examples might be 保留事項 (ほりゅうじこう) - Matters to be put on hold or deferred, or something that is not urgent.

地球温暖化対策は、世界全体にとっての急務です。 ・Translation: Measures against global warming are an urgent matter for the whole world. ・Explanation: This sentence emphasizes the critical and pressing nature of addressing global warming on a global scale. It highlights the importance of immediate action to mitigate climate change.

人手不足を解消することが、企業の急務となっている。 ・Translation: Resolving the labor shortage has become an urgent matter for companies. ・Explanation: This sentence indicates that the shortage of labor is a critical problem for businesses that requires their immediate attention and action.

The word 急務 is composed of two kanji: ⚫︎急 (きゅう): meaning "urgent," "sudden," or "hasty." ⚫︎務 (む): meaning "duty," "business," or "task." Therefore, the word literally means "urgent duty" or "urgent task," accurately reflecting its meaning of a pressing matter that demands immediate attention.