- [only before noun]
most important 最重要的；首要的；主要的 the chief cause/problem/reason 主要原因／问题／理由 He became the chief architect of the Treaty of Paris. 他成了巴黎条约的总设计师。 She cites the economy as her chief concern. 她认为经济是她最关心的问题。 one of the President’s chief rivals 总统的主要政敌之一 somebody's chief enemy/opponent 某人的主要敌人/对手 - chief among somebody/something
Chief among his challenges is the impact that current reforms could have on small businesses. 他面临的主要挑战是当前的改革可能对小企业产生的影响。
Synonyms mainmain- major
- key
- central
- principal
- chief
- prime
- main [only before noun] largest or most important:
Be careful crossing the main road. 过大马路时小心点。 The main thing is to remain calm. 最重要的是要保持冷静。
- major [usually before noun] very large or important:
He played a major role in setting up the system. 他在建立这个系统的过程中起了主要的作用。
- key [usually before noun] most important; essential:
He was a key figure in the campaign. 他是这场运动的关键人物。
- central (rather formal
) most important: 指最重要的、首要的、主要的： The central issue is that of widespread racism. 最重要的问题是种族主义到处泛滥。
- principal [only before noun] (rather formal
) most important: 指最重要的、首要的、主要的： The principal reason for this omission is lack of time. 跳过它的主要原因是时间不足。
- chief [only before noun] (rather formal
) most important: 指最重要的、首要的、主要的： Unemployment was the chief cause of poverty. 失业是贫穷的主要原因。
- prime [only before noun] (rather formal) most important; to be considered first:
My prime concern is to protect my property. 我最关心的是保护自己的财产。
- a/the main/major/key/central/principal/chief/prime aim/concern
- a/the main/major/principal road/town/city
- the main/key thing is to…
- to be of major/key/central/prime importance
More Like This Adjectives that only come before a nounAdjectives that only come before a nounExtra ExamplesHer chief rival for the gold medal is Jones of the USA. 她争夺金牌的主要对手是美国的琼斯。 The lion is the zebra's chief enemy. 狮子对斑马造成的威胁很大。 Their chief preoccupation was how to feed their families. 他们操心的主要是怎样填饱一家人的肚子。 Unemployment was the chief cause of poverty. 失业是贫穷的主要原因。 the chief exponent of something 某事的主要倡导者 the chief suspect in the case 本案的主要嫌疑人 the chief guest at the function 宴会的主要客人 Chief among the government's opponents were the bureaucrats, the military and the monarchy. 政府的主要反对者是官僚、军队和君主。
- (often Chief)[only before noun]
highest in rank 最高级别的；为首的；首席的 the chief economist at the World Bank 世界银行的首席经济学家 She is Chief Medical Officer for England. 她是英国首席医疗官。 the chief minister/secretary 首席部长/秘书 the chief Washington correspondent for CBS News 哥伦比亚广播公司驻华盛顿首席记者 the chief negotiator/adviser/strategist/spokesman 首席谈判代表/顾问/战略家/发言人 He became chief engineer of the Great Western Railway. 他成了西部大铁路的总工程师。 Who is the new Chief Education Officer? 谁是新的首席教育官？ Detective Chief Inspector Williams 总督察威廉斯
- -in-chief
(in nouns 构成名词 of the highest rank 最高级别的；为首的 commander-in-chief 总司令
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French chief, chef, based on Latin caput ‘head’.