Translation guide
The English word "priority" refers to something that is more important than other things and should be dealt with first. In Japanese, expressing this concept often involves using nouns like 優先 (ゆうせん) or 優先事項 (ゆうせんじこう), or verbs like 優先する (ゆうせんする). The most natural way to say something is a priority depends on the context, such as whether you are talking about personal priorities, work tasks, or formal policies.
Expressing that a particular task, goal, or concern is the most important and should be addressed before others.
A common noun meaning 'priority' or 'matter of priority'. Suitable for both spoken and written contexts, from casual to formal.
健康が最優先事項です。
Health is the top priority.
このプロジェクトの優先事項は何ですか？
What are the priorities for this project?
A noun meaning 'priority' or 'precedence'. Often used in compounds like 最優先 (top priority) or with the verb する to mean 'prioritize'.
安全を最優先に考えてください。
Please make safety your top priority.
仕事と家庭の優先順位をつけるのは難しい。
It's difficult to prioritize between work and family.
Literally 'priority ranking is high', used to say something has a high priority. Common in business or planning contexts.
このタスクは優先順位が高いです。
This task has a high priority.
Instead of a direct noun, you can express priority by emphasizing importance with adverbs. This is very natural in conversation.
何よりも家族が大切です。
Family is my priority above all else.
まず第一に、安全を確保してください。
First of all, ensure safety. (Safety is the priority.)
Talking about having precedence in movement or order, such as vehicles having the right of way or a person being served first.
Used in contexts like traffic priority or queue priority. Often seen in signs or rules.
緊急車両が優先です。
Emergency vehicles have priority.
この交差点では左折車が優先されます。
At this intersection, left-turning vehicles have the right of way.
Literally 'priority right', used in legal or formal contexts, such as patent priority or right of way.
Expressing the action of giving priority to something over other things.
The most direct verb meaning 'to prioritize'. Used in both casual and formal settings.
仕事より家族を優先する。
I prioritize family over work.
安全を優先して、工事を延期しました。
We prioritized safety and postponed the construction.
Causative form of 優先する, meaning 'to make something a priority' or 'to give priority to'. Slightly more formal.
顧客満足を優先させるべきだ。
We should prioritize customer satisfaction.
Means 'to set priorities' or 'to prioritize (multiple items)'. Useful when you need to rank tasks.
やるべきことに優先順位をつけましょう。
Let's prioritize the things we need to do.
In English, we often say 'X is a priority' or 'make X a priority'. In Japanese, using 優先 directly can sound stiff. In casual conversation, it's often more natural to say something like 'Xが一番大事' (X is most important) or 'Xを先にやる' (do X first). Reserve 優先 for more formal or specific contexts like business, traffic rules, or official policies.
優先 (priority/precedence) is the base concept. 優先事項 (priority matter) is a specific item that is a priority. 優先順位 (priority ranking) refers to the order of priorities. Use 優先順位 when you need to rank multiple items.
私にとって一番大切なのは家族です。
My top priority is my family.
Natural Japanese often avoids the word 'priority' in personal statements.
明確な優先順位を決める必要があります。
We need to set clear priorities.
安全が最優先です。
Safety is our number one priority.
歩行者に優先権があります。
Pedestrians have the right of way.