takes genitive case の, adjectival noun or quasi-adjective, noun

  1. crucial, key, most important, main (point).

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
肝心要 かんじんかなめ
肝腎要 かんじんかなめ

Contained Kanji Breakdown

liver, pluck, nerve
カン きも (8th, N1)
month, moon
つき ゲツ ガツ (1st, N5)
dry, parch, ebb
ひ.る カン ほ.す (6th, N2)
heart, mind, spirit
こころ シン (2nd, N4)
need, main point, essence
ヨウ い.る かなめ (4th, N3)
variant of radical 146
woman, female
ジョ おんな め (1st, N5)