主要 zhǔyào — main, chief, principal

Meanings

1. 1

   main, chief, principal

   Names the one that matters most among several: 主要的问题, the main problem. It stands before a noun and does not sit after 很 — a thing is not "very main", it either is the main one or is not.

   adjective
2. 2

   mainly, chiefly

   adverb

Example sentences

• 这是我们主要的问题。/這是我們主要的問題。Zhè (fourth tone, falling) shì (fourth tone, falling) wǒmen (third tone, dipping) zhǔyào (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) wèntí. (fourth tone, falling)···

  This is our main problem.

• 他主要在家工作。Tā (first tone, high and level) zhǔyào (third tone, dipping) zài (fourth tone, falling) jiā (first tone, high and level) gōngzuò. (first tone, high and level)···

  He works mainly from home.

Common mistakes

• Not quite这件事情很主要。

  Correct这件事情很重要。

  主要 ranks; 重要 weighs. Something can be 很重要 — very important — but 主要 admits no degree, because there is only one chief thing.

Similar words