Chinese word

主要

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhǔ yào

Meaning

  • adjectivemain

Example

他是这个项目的主要成员。tā shì zhè ge xiàng mù dì zhǔ yào chéng yuán

He is one of the main members of this project.

Illustration for 主要 (main)

More examples

交流能力是学习语言的主要方面之一。jiāo liú néng lì shì xué xí yǔ yán de zhǔ yào fāng miàn zhī yī

The ability to communicate is one of the main aspects of learning a language.

Core concept

The leading part that holds a group together and helps determine what happens.

Common phrases

  • 主要方面zhǔ yào fāng miàn

    main aspect

  • 主要原因zhǔ yào yuán yīn

    main cause

  • 主要成员zhǔ yào chéng yuán

    main member

Similar words

重要zhòng yào: Having great value or influence and therefore needing attention or action.

Definition in Chinese

用于指示某物或某人在一组中占据最重要的地位并具有决定性影响的形容词。yòng yú zhǐ shì mǒu wù huò mǒu rén zài yì zǔ zhōng zhàn jù zuì zhòng yào de dì wèi bìng jù yǒu jué dìng xìng yíng xiǎng de xíng róng cí

Word origin

主要 (zhǔyào, "main") is formed from 主 (zhǔ, "chief") and 要 (yào, "essential"), so its meaning brings together leadership and importance.

Usage tips

  • This word works best when a whole has several parts, because it marks the part that shapes the rest rather than simply adding praise.

Other meanings

  • importantadjective
  • centraladjective

Opposites

  • 次要cì yàosecondaryadjective

Word lists with this word