Chinese word

主

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhǔ

Meaning

  • adjectivemain

Example

这主要的问题是什么？zhè zhǔ yào de wèn tí shì shén me

What is the main problem with this?

Illustration for 主 (main)

More examples

主要原因是经济结构的变化。zhǔ yào yuán yīn shì jīng jì jié gòu de biàn huà

The main cause is a change in the economic structure.

Core concept

The central part or factor that carries the greatest importance in a larger whole.

Common phrases

  • 主要问题zhǔ yào wèn tí

    main problem

  • 主要任务zhǔ yào rèn wù

    main task

  • 主要原因zhǔ yào yuán yīn

    main cause

Similar words

主要zhǔ yào: Making up the main part or expressing the primary side of something.
重要zhòng yào: Having great value or influence and therefore needing attention.
首要shǒu yào: Coming first in importance or priority.
关键guān jiàn: Being the deciding factor in an outcome or result.

Definition in Chinese

表示在某一方面居于首位或最重要的意思，常作为复合词的组成部分，表示事物的主要部分或最重要的方面。biǎo shì zài mǒu yì fāng miàn jū yú shǒu wèi huò zuì zhòng yào de yì si cháng zuò wéi fù hé cí de zǔ chéng bù fèn biǎo shì shì wù de zhǔ yào bù fèn huò zuì zhòng yào de fāng miàn

Word origin

The character 主 (zhǔ, "main") is traditionally traced to a lamp flame fixed above a stand, a central point that led to senses such as master, principal, and main.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Mandarin, 主 (zhǔ, "main") usually appears inside compounds instead of standing alone as an adjective, so ordinary speech often uses a longer word for this idea.

Other meanings

  • mainlyadverb

Opposites

  • 次要cì yàosecondaryadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word