The word precious in Japanese has a broad sense

A variety of Japanese word "Precious"

Work of Japanese calligraphy of Eiju Hayashi who is priest in Japan

This is the Japanese word "大切(taisetsu)". Kanji named Taisetsu

It has the wide sense very much.
The word "大切(taisetsu)" is used for person, animal, things, and one's feelings.]

Japanese calligraphy of Eiju Hayashi who is priest in Japan.
Meaning: It is not important in the past and the future. Now is important.

The word "大切(taisetsu)" has many cases that substitution with the word "大事(daiji)" and the word "貴重(kichou)　and the word "重要(juuyou)" is possible.

These four kanji words are synonyms.
But, these have the difference of the meaning.
Please refer to the example sentence.

	Meaning		Pronunciation
1	valuable	precious	taisestu
	important	vital
	value	good
	crucial	love
	cherish	carefully
	sparingly	treasure
	beloved	take care
2	precious	vital	daiji
	important	value
	good	crucial
	love	cherish
	take care	carefully
	sparingly	treasure
	beloved	kind
3	valuable	important	juuyou(jūyō)
3	vital	crucial	juuyou(jūyō)
4	valuable	precious	kichou(kichō)
	important	value
	good	cherish

Precious (important) blah blah blah.

<Sentence pattern: "大切な blah blah blah">
English	Japanese
a valuable experience.	大切なor貴重な経験 taisetsu na/kichou na keiken
your precious time.	あなたの大切なor貴重な時間 anata no taisetsu na/kichou na jikan
an important event.	大切なor重要な行事 taisetsu na/jyuuyou na gyouji
valuable advice.	大切なor大事なor貴重な意見 taisetsu na/daiji na/kichou na iken
precious memories.	大切なor大事な思い出。 taisetsu na/daiji na omoide
the important [vital] point	大切なor大事なor重要な点 taisetsu na/daiji na/jyuuyou na ten
He lost some important papers.	彼は大切なor大事な書類をなくしました。 kare wa taisetsu na/daiji na shorui wo nakushi mashita.
I have something important to tell you.	私は君に大切なor大事な重要な話がある。 watashi wa kimi ni taisetsu na/daiji na/jyuuyou na hanashi ga aru.
I read a book, I underline all the important points.	僕は本を読む時に大切なor大事なor重要なところにはアンダーラインを引くことにしている。 boku wa hon wo yomu toki ni taisetsu na/daiji na/jyuuyou na tokoro niha andārain wo hikukoto ni shiteiru.
Please put valuables in the locker.	大切なor大事なものはロッカーに入れて下さい。 taisetsu na/daiji na mono wa rokkā ni irete kudasai.

You're' (Blah blah blah is) precious.

<The sentence "あなたは大切な人です(anata wa taisetsu na hito desu)>
<The sentence "Blah blah blahは大切な物です(blah blah blah wa taisetsu na mono desu)>
English	Japanese
I value her friendship very much.	彼女は私の大切なor大事な友人です。 kanojo wa watashi no taisetsu na/daiji na yuujin desu.
He is very precious to me.	私にとって彼はとても大切なor大事な人です。 watashi ni totte kare wa taisetsu na/daiji na hito desu.
She is the most important person for me.	彼女は僕にとって一番大切なor大事な人です。 kanojo wa boku ni totte ichiban taisetsu na/daiji na hito desu.
She is my beloved sister.	彼女は大切なor大事な姉(妹)です。 kanojo wa taisetsu na/daiji na ane(imouto) desu.
She is a good [an important] customer	彼女は大切なor大事なお客様だ。 kanojo wa taisetsu na/daiji na okyakusama da.
I value this picture next to my life.	この絵は私の命から二番目に大切なor大事なものです。 kono e wa watashi no inochi kara nibanme ni taisetsu na/daiji na mono desu.
I lost the crucial game.	僕は大切なor大事な試合に負けた。 boku wa taisetsu na/daiji na shiai ni maketa.
This is a very important matter to me.	これは私にとって非常に大切なor大事なor重要な問題です。 koreha watashi ni totte hijouni taisetsu na/daiji na/juuyou na mondai desu.
Play is a very important element in every child's life.	遊びは子供時代になくてはならない大切なor大事なものです。 asobi wa kodomo jidai ni nakutewa naranai taisetsu na/daiji na mono desu.
This Beatles record is my most precious possessions.	このビートルズのレコードは私の大切なor大事な貴重な宝物です。 kono biitoruzu no rekōdo wa watashi no taisetsu na/daiji na/kichou na takara-mono desu.

*If you who is the man say this sentence pattern to the boss at work, the meaning means simply "You are valuable or precious".
If you who is the man say this to your girlfriend, it might mean "I love you".
Take care when you say this sentence pattern to the Japanese.
Please use it especially carefully when you use this word for opposite sex.

Blah blah blah is important.

<Sentence pattern: "することは大切です(surukoto wa taisetsu desu)">
English	Japanese
Learning physics is important.	物理学を勉強することは大切or重要です。 butsurigaku wo benkyou surukoto wa taisetsu/juuyou desu.
It is important to study Japanese every day.	毎日日本語を勉強することは大切or重要です。 mainichi nihongo wo benkyou surukoto wa taisetsu/juuyou desu
Practicing sport's regularly is important.	定期的にスポーツをすることは大切or大事です。 teiki-teki ni supōtsu wo surukoto wa taisetsu/daiji desu.
In mountain climbing it's important that you have good footwear [footgear].]	山登りには足ごしらえが大切or大事or重要だ。 yama-nobori niwa ashi-goshirae ga taisetsu/daiji/juuyou da.
The education of its people is important for a nation.	国は人造りが大切or大事or重要だ。 kuni wa hito-zukuri ga taisetsu/daiji/juuyou da.
It is important to select a job according to one's ability and inclinations.	人それぞれの向き向きに合わせた職業選択が大切or大事or重要だ。 hito sorezore no mukimuki ni awaseta shokugyou-sentaku ga taisetsu/daiji/juuyou da.
It is important to turn in a good report.	大切なor大事なことは良いレポートを提出することです。 taisetsu na/daiji na kotowa yoi repōto wo teishutsu surukoto desu.
It is important that we should know the fact.	私たちにとって大切なor重要なor大事なことは事実を知ることだ。 watashi-tachi ni totte taisetsu na/juuyou na/daiji nanakotowa jijitsu wo shiru kotoda.

I treasure the blah blah blah.

<Sentence pattern: "blah blah blahを大切にする(blah blah blah wo taisetsu ni suru)">
English	Japanese
You should take better care of yourself.	あなたはもっと体を大切にor大事にするべきです。 anata wa motto karada wo taisetsu ni/daiji ni surubeki desu.
Please take good care of yourself in this terrible heat.	このひどい熱では、お体を大切にor大事にしてください。 kono hidoi netsu dewa, o-karada wo taisetsu ni/daiji ni shite kudasai.
Be kind to your grandparents.	おじいちゃんとおばあちゃんを大切にor大事にしてね。 ojii-chan to o-baachan wo taisetsu ni/daiji ni shitene.
You should take good care of your parents.	両親を大切にor大事にしなさい。 ryoushin wo taisetsu ni/daiji ni shinasai.
You should cherish your friends.	友達を大切にor大事にしなさいよ。 tomodachi wo taisetsu ni/daiji ni shinasai yo.
Go easy on with the butter. It's all we have till Monday.	バター、大切にor大事に使ってよ。月曜日までそれしかないんだから。 batā, taisetsu ni/daiji ni tsukatte yo. getsuyoubi made soreshika naindakara.
Please handle books carefully.	本は大切にor大事に扱って下さい。 hon wa taisetsu ni/daiji ni atsukatte kudasasi.
Let's use water sparingly.	水を大切にしましょう。 mizu wo taisetsu ni shimashou.
I'll treasure your present.	あなたからのプレゼントを大切にor大事にします。 anata kara no purezento wo taisetsu ni/daiji ni shimasu.

Other Taisetsu

<Other sentence patterns>
English	Japanese
Imagine me, of all people, forgetting such an important thing!	私としたことがそんな大切なor大事なことを忘れるなんて！ watashi to shitakotoga sonna taisetsu na/daiji na koto wo wasureru nante!
He emphasized [stressed] the importance of consideration for others.	彼は思いやりの大切さを力説した。 kare wa omoiyari no taisetsu sa wo rikisetsu shita.
I left out [forgot to mention] an important matter in my report.	報告書の中で大切なor大事な重要なことを書き落としてしまった。 houkokusho no naka de taisetsu na/daiji na/juuyou na koto wo kaki otoshite shimatta.
"Please take care of yourself." "Thank you. I will." (*This word "daiji";we cannot replace it with other words.)	「どうぞお大事に。」 douzo odaiji ni. 「ありがとうございます。」 arigatou gozaimasu.

Hararie