Meaning of 主要
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- main; principal; major; primary
How to use 主要
主要 works as an adjective before a noun, and it can also act like an adverb meaning "mainly" before a verb. Example: 这个问题的主要原因是时间不够。(Zhège wèntí de zhǔyào yuányīn shì shíjiān bú gòu.) The main reason for this problem is not enough time.
主 (zhǔ) means master or host, as in 主人 (zhǔrén), and 要 (yào) means important or needed. The thing that is the master of what matters is the main one.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 主要 (zhǔyào, main) with 重要 (zhòngyào, important). Saying 这件事很主要 is wrong. Use 很重要 for "very important" and keep 主要 for "the main one among several". Also do not confuse it with 只要 (zhǐyào, as long as), which sounds similar but is a conjunction.
主要 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
主 zhǔ · owner · 5 strokes
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要 yào · to want · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 主要.
| 重要 | zhòngyào | important; significant; major |
| 不要 | bùyào | don't!; must not |
| 只要 | zhǐyào | so long as; provided; if |
| 就要 | jiùyào | will; shall |
| 要求 | yāoqiú | to request; to require |
| 主人 | zhǔrén | owner; host |
| 快要 | kuàiyào | nearly at the point of (doing sth); about to (do sth) |
| 需要 | xūyào | to need; to want; to demand; to require; needs |
| 要是 | yàoshi | (coll.) if |
| 主意 | zhǔyi | plan; idea |
| 必要 | bìyào | necessary; essential |
| 主任 | zhǔrèn | director; head |
Questions about 主要
What does 主要 mean?
主要 (zhǔyào) means "main; principal; major; primary" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 主要?
主要 is made of 2 characters: 主 (5 strokes), 要 (9 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.
Is 主要 an HSK word?
Yes. 主要 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
Can 主要 mean "mainly" in a sentence?
Yes. Put it before the verb or phrase. For example, 我主要在家工作 (Wǒ zhǔyào zài jiā gōngzuò) means "I mainly work from home."
Can I say 很主要 or 非常主要?
Usually no. 主要 picks out the main item, so it does not combine naturally with degree words like 很. Use 最主要 (zuì zhǔyào, the most important main point) or switch to 重要.