When using “主要地” in Chinese, remember it’s an adverb, so it describes verbs or clauses, telling us how something is done or what its main characteristic is.
For example, you could say “我们主要地讨论了未来的计划” (Wǒmen zhǔyào de tǎolùn le wèilái de jìhuà), meaning “We mainly discussed future plans.”
It’s often interchangeable with “主要,” especially when modifying verbs, but “主要地” emphasizes the adverbial role more explicitly.
Think of it as adding a nuanced “in a main way” or “primarily” to your sentence.
Exemplos por nível
这本书主要地探讨了人工智能在医疗领域的应用。
This book mainly explores the application of artificial intelligence in the medical field.
我们公司主要地生产电子产品，但也涉足软件开发。
Our company mainly produces electronic products, but also dabbles in software development.
这个项目主要地由志愿者完成，政府提供少量资金支持。
This project is mainly completed by volunteers, with limited financial support from the government.
他的成功主要地归功于他的勤奋和坚持不懈。
His success is mainly attributed to his diligence and perseverance.
这次会议主要地讨论了气候变化对全球经济的影响。
This conference mainly discussed the impact of climate change on the global economy.
这种植物主要地生长在热带地区，对温度和湿度要求很高。
This plant mainly grows in tropical regions, requiring high temperature and humidity.
这幅画主要地采用了抽象派手法，色彩运用大胆。
This painting mainly adopts an abstract style, with bold use of color.
这个国家的经济主要地依赖于旅游业和农业。
The economy of this country mainly relies on tourism and agriculture.
Colocações comuns
Frases Comuns
这个问题主要地在于缺乏经验。
This problem mainly lies in the lack of experience.
我们主要地通过电子邮件沟通。
We mainly communicate via email.
他的工作主要地是协调团队。
His work is mainly to coordinate the team.
这家公司主要地生产电子产品。
This company mainly produces electronic products.
会议主要地讨论了未来的计划。
The meeting mainly discussed future plans.
这里的居民主要地讲方言。
The residents here mainly speak dialect.
她的成功主要地归功于努力。
Her success is mainly attributed to hard work.
这个项目主要地由他负责。
This project is mainly his responsibility.
我们主要地关注客户的需求。
We mainly focus on customer needs.
这份报告主要地分析了市场趋势。
This report mainly analyzes market trends.
Expressões idiomáticas
"三心二意 (sān xīn èr yì)"
half-hearted, to be of two minds
他总是三心二意，不能专注于一件事。(He is always half-hearted and cannot concentrate on one thing.)
neutral"一举两得 (yī jǔ liǎng dé)"
to kill two birds with one stone, to achieve two things at once
骑自行车上班可以锻炼身体，又可以省钱，真是一举两得。(Cycling to work can exercise your body and save money, truly killing two birds with one stone.)
neutral"马马虎虎 (mǎ mǎ hǔ hǔ)"
so-so, careless, mediocre
他的中文说得马马虎虎，但也能沟通。(His Chinese is so-so, but he can still communicate.)
neutral"对牛弹琴 (duì niú tán qín)"
to preach to deaf ears, to cast pearls before swine (literally: to play the lute to a cow)
跟不懂音乐的人谈古典乐，简直是对牛弹琴。(Talking about classical music with someone who doesn't understand music is like preaching to deaf ears.)
neutral"入乡随俗 (rù xiāng suí sú)"
when in Rome, do as the Romans do
到了一个新的地方，我们应该入乡随俗。(When you arrive in a new place, we should do as the Romans do.)
neutral"津津有味 (jīn jīn yǒu wèi)"
with great interest, with keen pleasure
孩子们津津有味地听着故事。(The children listened to the story with great interest.)
neutral"开门见山 (kāi mén jiàn shān)"
to get straight to the point (literally: open the door and see the mountain)
我们开门见山地说吧，你有什么问题？(Let's get straight to the point, what's your problem?)
neutral"半途而废 (bàn tú ér fèi)"
to give up halfway, to abandon something unfinished
学习中文不能半途而废，要坚持下去。(Learning Chinese cannot be given up halfway, you must persevere.)
neutral"小心翼翼 (xiǎo xīn yì yì)"
with great care, cautiously
她小心翼翼地把花瓶放了下来。(She carefully put the vase down.)
neutral"画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú)"
to overdo it, to add unnecessary details (literally: drawing a snake and adding feet)
你的报告已经很好了，再加那些内容就是画蛇添足了。(Your report is already very good, adding that content would be overdoing it.)
neutralComo usar
主要地 (zhǔ yào de) is an adverb that means 'mainly' or 'primarily.' It is often used to emphasize the main point or reason for something. You can place it before a verb or an adjective to modify it.
A common mistake is confusing 主要地 with 主要 (zhǔ yào), which is an adjective meaning 'main' or 'principal.' Remember, 主要地 describes *how* something is done or *to what extent*, while 主要 describes *what kind* of thing something is.
For example:
- 主要地 (adverb): 他主要地负责销售。 (Tā zhǔ yào de fù zé xiāo shòu.) - He is mainly responsible for sales.
- 主要 (adjective): 这是主要的原因。 (Zhè shì zhǔ yào de yuán yīn.) - This is the main reason.
Dicas
Placement with verbs
When '主要地' modifies a verb, it usually comes before the verb. For example, '我主要地学习中文' (Wǒ zhǔyào de xuéxí Zhōngwén) means 'I mainly study Chinese'.
Placement with adjectives
If '主要地' modifies an adjective, it also generally comes before the adjective. For example, '问题主要地是经济的' (Wèntí zhǔyào de shì jīngjì de) means 'The problem is mainly economic'.
Adverbial particle '地'
The character '地' (de) is a structural particle that turns adjectives or nouns into adverbs. Here, '主要' (zhǔyào) means 'main' or 'primary', and adding '地' makes it an adverb: 'mainly'.
Common usage
'主要地' is often used to emphasize the primary focus or reason for something. Think about what is the 'main' point.
Synonym: '主要'
In many contexts, you can simply use '主要' (zhǔyào) without '地' as an adverb, especially in spoken Chinese. For example, '我们主要谈工作' (Wǒmen zhǔyào tán gōngzuò) means 'We mainly talk about work'. '主要地' is slightly more formal or emphatic.
Don't confuse with '的'
Be careful not to confuse '地' (de) with '的' (de). While both are structural particles pronounced 'de', '地' is for adverbs modifying verbs/adjectives, and '的' is for possessive or descriptive modifiers before nouns. They have different functions.
Sentence structure example 1
Subject + 主要地 + Verb + Object. Example: '他们主要地销售电子产品' (Tāmen zhǔyào de xiāoshòu diànzǐ chǎnpǐn). Hint: They mainly sell electronics.
Sentence structure example 2
Subject + 是 + 主要地 + Adjective. Example: '这个项目主要地是研究性质的' (Zhège xiàngmù zhǔyào de shì yánjiū xìngzhì de). Hint: This project is mainly research-oriented.
Usage with '因为'
'主要地' can precede '因为' (yīnwèi - because) to emphasize the main reason. Example: '他来这里主要地是因为工作' (Tā lái zhèlǐ zhǔyào de shì yīnwèi gōngzuò). Hint: He came here mainly because of work.
Formal vs. informal
While '主要地' is grammatically correct and widely understood, in very informal spoken Chinese, you might hear '主要' used adverbially more often without the '地'. Knowing both is useful.
Memorize
Mnemônico
Think of '主要' (zhǔ yào) as 'main' or 'important'. The '地' (de) here acts like '-ly' in English, turning an adjective into an adverb. So, 'main' + '-ly' = 'mainly'.
Associação visual
Imagine a big, main road with lots of smaller roads leading off it. The big, main road is '主要地' because it's where most of the traffic (and action) happens.
Word Web
Desafio
Try to use 主要地 in three sentences today describing what you mainly do, what your main interests are, or what a company mainly focuses on. For example: '我主要地学习中文。' (Wǒ zhǔ yào de xuéxí Zhōngwén. - I mainly study Chinese.)
Pratique na vida real
Contextos reais
Describing someone's primary role or responsibility in a team or organization.
- 他主要地负责市场推广。
- 她主要地处理客户服务。
- 我们主要地依赖他的领导。
Explaining the main reason or cause for an event or situation.
- 问题主要地源于沟通不畅。
- 成功主要地归功于团队合作。
- 迟到主要地是因为交通堵塞。
Highlighting the main focus or content of a presentation, discussion, or document.
- 会议主要地讨论了新产品发布。
- 报告主要地分析了市场趋势。
- 这本书主要地介绍了中国文化。
Referring to the primary material or ingredient in a dish or product.
- 这道菜主要地用蔬菜做成。
- 这种饮料主要地含有果汁。
- 这种面料主要地是棉质的。
Discussing the main source of income or livelihood for a person or family.
- 他主要地靠写作谋生。
- 他们家主要地经营一家小商店。
- 我的收入主要地来自我的工作。
Iniciadores de conversa
"你主要地做什么工作？"
"你周末主要地喜欢做什么？"
"你学中文主要地是为了什么？"
"你觉得这个城市主要地有什么特色？"
"你最近主要地在忙什么？"
Temas para diário
描述你一天中主要地做了什么。
你认为你生活中的主要地目标是什么？
你最喜欢的一本书或电影主要地讲了什么？
如果你有一个长假，你主要地会去哪里？
你觉得你的朋友或家人主要地有什么优点？
Teste-se 18 perguntas
The correct order is subject + adverb + verb + object. He mainly studies Chinese.
The correct order is subject + adverb + verb + object. We mainly like to eat noodles.
The correct order is subject + adverb + verb + object. This store mainly sells clothes.
Write a sentence describing what you mainly do on weekends, using '主要地'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
周末我主要地在家看电影。
Describe your main reason for studying Chinese, using '主要地'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我主要地是想和中国朋友交流。
Write about what your city is mainly famous for, using '主要地'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我的城市主要地以美食闻名。
小明主要喜欢什么运动？
Read this passage:
小明喜欢运动，他主要地打篮球，但也偶尔踢足球。他的朋友们觉得他是个很好的运动员。
小明主要喜欢什么运动？
文章中明确提到小明主要地打篮球。
文章中明确提到小明主要地打篮球。
这家餐厅主要提供哪种菜系？
Read this passage:
这家餐厅的菜很好吃，主要地是川菜，所以有点辣。很多人喜欢来这里吃饭。
这家餐厅主要提供哪种菜系？
文章中说这家餐厅主要地是川菜。
文章中说这家餐厅主要地是川菜。
说话者学习中文的主要目的是什么？
Read this passage:
我学习中文主要是为了工作。我的工作主要地需要我与中国客户沟通。所以，学好中文对我来说非常重要。
说话者学习中文的主要目的是什么？
文章中提到“我学习中文主要是为了工作”。
文章中提到“我学习中文主要是为了工作”。
这个国家经济发展的问题___集中在教育和医疗方面。
‘主要地’强调问题的主要方面。
我们团队的工作任务___是市场调研和客户服务。
‘主要地’表示团队工作任务的核心内容。
这部电影的成功___归功于导演的创新理念和演员的精湛表演。
‘主要地’指出电影成功的主要原因。
学生们对这次旅行的兴趣___集中在参观历史遗迹上。
‘主要地’表示学生们兴趣的核心点。
这家公司的业务范围___覆盖亚洲和欧洲市场。
‘主要地’强调公司业务覆盖的主要区域。
他辞职的原因___是因为工作压力太大，与个人发展方向不符。
‘主要地’说明辞职的核心原因。
/ 18 correct
Perfect score!
Placement with verbs
When '主要地' modifies a verb, it usually comes before the verb. For example, '我主要地学习中文' (Wǒ zhǔyào de xuéxí Zhōngwén) means 'I mainly study Chinese'.
Placement with adjectives
If '主要地' modifies an adjective, it also generally comes before the adjective. For example, '问题主要地是经济的' (Wèntí zhǔyào de shì jīngjì de) means 'The problem is mainly economic'.
Adverbial particle '地'
The character '地' (de) is a structural particle that turns adjectives or nouns into adverbs. Here, '主要' (zhǔyào) means 'main' or 'primary', and adding '地' makes it an adverb: 'mainly'.
Common usage
'主要地' is often used to emphasize the primary focus or reason for something. Think about what is the 'main' point.
Conteúdo relacionado
Esta palavra em outros idiomas
Mais palavras de academic
缺席
B1The state of being absent from a place or event where one is expected to be, such as a class, meeting, or ceremony.
抽象的
A2Abstract.
抽象地
B1In an abstract manner; conceptually.
艰深
B1Profound; abstruse; recondite.
学术性
A2Academic; scholarly; relating to education and scholarship.
学术化
B1Academic; characterized by formal study or research.
学术会议
A2Academic conference; a formal meeting for academic discussions.
学术交流
B1Exchange of ideas, information, and research among scholars.
学术期刊
B1A periodical publication containing scholarly articles.
教务处
A2Academic affairs office; department handling educational administration.
