1. absolutely necessary; extremely important
絕對必要的；極其重要的
Water is essential for life.
水是生命所必需的。
Good communication skills are essential in this job.
良好的溝通技巧在這份工作中是必不可少的。
Essential Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
essential
adjective
快速理解
What does "Essential" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Essential"?
形容某事物是絕對必要、不可或缺的，或是構成某物的基本核心部分。
- 1
絕對必要
EN: absolutely necessary; extremely important
翻譯: 絕對必要、極其重要的
- 2
基本核心
EN: fundamental; forming the basic nature of something
翻譯: 基本的；構成某物核心本質的
- 3
不可或缺
EN: indispensable; cannot be done without
翻譯: 不可或缺的；不能沒有的
小提醒：注意："essential" 強調的是「必要性」與「根本性」，語氣比 "important" 強烈許多，表示少了它就不行。
發音（How to Pronounce "Essential" in English）
How to pronounce "Essential" in English?"Essential" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Essential" from YouTube Videos
Paul Buchheit: What traits do startups need to succeed?
Y Combinator
“frugality, I think, is also really essential. I think, like one of the best indicators of if you're doing it right is essentially your input to output ratio.”
(1 out of 51)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Essential"?How does "Essential" change by context?
2. relating to the most important aspect or basic nature of something
與某事物最重要的方面或基本性質相關的；根本的
The essential difference between the two plans is the cost.
這兩個計畫的根本區別在於成本。
She captured the essential character of the city in her painting.
她在畫作中捕捉到了這座城市的基本特質。
3. (of an oil or other natural product) pure and concentrated, obtained by distillation or similar process
（油或其他天然產品）純粹且濃縮的，透過蒸餾或類似過程獲得的
Lavender essential oil is often used in aromatherapy.
薰衣草精油常用於芳香療法。
The perfume contains essential oils from various flowers.
這款香水含有多種花卉的精油。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Essential"?How to make natural sentences with "Essential"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| essential + to + noun | 對...至關重要 | Trust is essential to a good relationship. (信任對良好的關係至關重要。) |
| essential + for + noun/gerund | 對...是必要的 | A good diet is essential for maintaining health. (良好的飲食對維持健康是必要的。) |
| It is essential + that-clause | ...是必要的 | It is essential that you arrive on time. (你準時到達是必要的。) |
| essential + noun | 必要的... | Clean water is an essential resource. (乾淨的水是必要的資源。) |
| be + essential | 是必要的；是根本的 | This step is absolutely essential. (這一步是絕對必要的。) |
用法說明
How is "Essential" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Essential"?
essential doing vs essential to do
- essential doing 這種結構在現代英語中非常罕見且通常被視為不正確。
essential作為形容詞，後面不直接接動名詞 (V-ing)。 - essential to do 是標準且正確的用法。
essential後接不定詞 (to + 動詞原形)，用於說明「做某事是必要的」。 - essential for doing 則是另一個常見的正確結構，用於說明「對於做某事而言是必要的」，強調目的或所需條件。
- 在
It is essential that...的句型中，that子句裡的動詞常使用虛擬語氣，即動詞原形，或搭配should+ 動詞原形。 EN: It is essential to check the facts before publishing the story. 翻譯: 在發布報導前，核實事實是必要的。
EN:This tool is essential for completing the repair job safely.
翻譯:這個工具對於安全完成修理工作是必不可少的。
總結建議
建議統一使用「essential to do」或「essential for doing」來表達「做某事是必要的」，並避免使用「essential doing」。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Essential" and similar words?How to choose "Essential" vs alternatives?
essential vs necessary
essential 強調「不可或缺、根本的」，necessary 則指「需要的、必須的」，語氣較弱。
essential vs fundamental
essential 強調「不可或缺」，fundamental 強調「基礎、根本原理」。
essential vs vital
essential 和 vital 意思非常接近，但 vital 更常與生命、生存或極端重要性相關。
essential vs crucial
essential 描述「本質上必要」，crucial 強調「在關鍵時刻或決策點上極度重要」。
口語用法
How is "Essential" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Essential"?
引述
在口語中，常用來引述或強調某個被認為是核心、不可或缺的觀點或事實。 EN: And he kept saying that communication is essential for any relationship to work. 翻譯: 而且他一直強調，溝通對於任何一段關係的維繫都是至關重要的。
EN:So the manager's point was, a positive attitude is just as essential as technical skills.
翻譯:所以經理的論點是，積極的態度跟專業技能一樣不可或缺。
語氣強調
用於加強語氣，常與 "absolutely"、"so"、"really" 等副詞連用，表達極高的必要性或重要性。 EN: It's absolutely essential that you back up your files before the update. 翻譯: 在更新之前備份你的檔案是絕對必要的。
EN:Trust is so essential in a team like ours.
翻譯:在我們這樣的團隊裡，信任是如此關鍵。
停頓填充
在組織思緒或尋找合適詞語時，作為短暫的停頓填充詞，引出後續要說明的重點項目。 EN: For a successful camping trip, the essentials... you know, a good tent, warm sleeping bag, and enough water. 翻譯: 要成功完成一次露營，那些必需品嘛... 就是，一頂好帳篷、溫暖的睡袋，還有足夠的水。
EN:The course covers the essentials—like basic grammar and vocabulary—before moving to advanced topics.
翻譯:這門課涵蓋了基礎要點—像是基本文法跟單字—然後才會進入進階主題。
正式書寫注意：在正式或學術寫作中，應避免將 "essential" 用作填充停頓詞（如第三類用法）。建議使用更精確的引導短語，例如 "the key components are..." 或 "the fundamental requirements include..."，以保持文章的嚴謹與流暢。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Essential"?What fixed phrases with "Essential" should I remember?
essential to
essential to something/someone
對...至關重要
essential for
essential for something/doing something
為...所必需
play an essential role
play an essential role (in something)
扮演關鍵角色
essential part
an essential part of something
不可或缺的部分
essential nature
the essential nature of something
...的本質
absolutely essential
absolutely essential
絕對必要
essential information
essential information
必要資訊
essential oil
essential oil
精油
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Essential"?Which "Essential" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×It is an essential.
✓It is essential. / It is an essential item.
「essential」作為形容詞，後面通常直接接名詞或單獨使用，不應直接加冠詞「an」。若想當名詞使用，需有上下文（如「an essential item」）或使用複數形式（如「the essentials」）。
×Water is essential for to survive.
✓Water is essential for survival. / Water is essential to survive.
表達「對...至關重要」時，「essential」後可接「for + 名詞/動名詞」或「to + 動詞原形」。不應混合使用「for to」的結構。
×It is very essential.
✓It is essential.
「essential」本身已表示「絕對必要、不可或缺」，其程度已達極致，通常不需要再用「very」來修飾。使用「absolutely」或「truly」等詞來強調更為自然。
×It is essential that he arrives early.
✓It is essential that he arrive early.
在「It is essential that...」這類表示要求、建議或必要的句型中，that子句應使用動詞原形（美式英語）或「should + 動詞原形」（英式英語），這稱為虛擬語氣。
×Food is necessary for life. (想強調『不可或缺』時)
✓Food is essential for life.
「necessary」指「需要的」，而「essential」語氣更強，指「不可或缺的、根本的」。在強調某物是生存或成功的絕對基礎時，使用「essential」更精確。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Essential"?What are tense/participle forms of "Essential"?