1. mainly; for the most part
主要地;大部分地
The company is primarily focused on software development.
這家公司主要專注於軟體開發。
He is primarily responsible for the project's success.
他主要負責這個專案的成功。
「primarily」表示某事物最主要、最基本或最初的目的、原因或性質。
主要地
EN: mainly; for the most part
翻譯: 指某事物最主要的組成部分、功能或關注點。
根本上
EN: fundamentally; in essence
翻譯: 指某事物最核心、最基本的性質或原因。
最初地
EN: originally; at first
翻譯: 指某事物最初的目的、設計或狀態。
小提醒:注意「primarily」強調的是「首要」或「根本」的層次,而不僅僅是「大部分」。它常與原因、目的或本質相關,而不僅是數量上的多數。
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Primarily" from YouTube Videos
Synthetic Media: Virtual Influencers & Live Animation: Figments (S19) - YC Gaming Tech Talks 2020
Y Combinator
“this is something that we're actively hiring to continue building these tools out, because they enable us to create content that really couldn't previously, really hasn't been able to, hasn't previously existed, primarily due to the fact that we can use real-time game engines for live animation and mocap.”
1. mainly; for the most part
主要地;大部分地
The company is primarily focused on software development.
這家公司主要專注於軟體開發。
He is primarily responsible for the project's success.
他主要負責這個專案的成功。
2. in the first place; originally
最初;起初
The building was primarily designed as a library.
這棟建築最初是設計為圖書館。
This tool was primarily intended for professional use.
這個工具最初是為專業用途設計的。
3. fundamentally; essentially
根本上;本質上
The issue is primarily a matter of trust.
這個問題根本上是一個信任問題。
Her argument is primarily based on economic principles.
她的論點本質上是基於經濟原則。
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| primarily + V | 主要地(做某事) | The company primarily focuses on renewable energy. (這家公司主要專注於可再生能源。) |
| primarily + prepositional phrase | 主要地(在某方面/領域) | His research is primarily in the field of genetics. (他的研究主要在遺傳學領域。) |
| primarily + because/since/as | 主要是因為 | She succeeded primarily because of her perseverance. (她成功主要是因為她的堅持不懈。) |
| primarily + used to + V | 主要用於(做某事) | This tool is primarily used to measure air pressure. (這個工具主要用於測量氣壓。) |
| be + primarily + adjective | 主要是(某種狀態) | The audience was primarily enthusiastic about the performance. (觀眾對這場表演主要是感到熱情。) |
EN:This tool was created primarily to simplify the editing process.
翻譯:開發這個工具主要是為了簡化編輯流程。
EN:She works primarily managing client relationships.
翻譯:她的工作主要是管理客戶關係。
EN:He came primarily to discuss the budget, not to socialize.
翻譯:他來主要是為了討論預算,不是來交際的。
在大多數情況下,primarily doing 與 primarily to do 可互換,但若想強調「目的性」,使用 primarily to do 會更精準。
primarily vs mainly
「primarily」強調首要或根本原因,語氣更正式;「mainly」則泛指大部分情況,較為口語。
primarily vs chiefly
「primarily」與「chiefly」意義非常接近,但「chiefly」更書面,且更常描述事物的主要組成部分。
primarily vs essentially
「primarily」指重要性上的「主要」;「essentially」指本質或基本要素上的「基本上」。
用於引述或轉述他人的話,表示「主要是說」、「主要提到」。 EN: He said he was primarily concerned about the budget. 翻譯: 他說他主要擔心的是預算。
EN:She mentioned that the feedback was primarily positive.
翻譯:她提到回饋主要是正面的。
在口語中,用來強調某事的核心或首要原因,常與「because」、「just」等詞連用。 EN: I'm not going, primarily because I don't have the time. 翻譯: 我不去,主要是因為我沒時間。
EN:It failed primarily due to a lack of communication.
翻譯:它失敗主要是因為缺乏溝通。
在思考或組織語言時,作為一個短暫的停頓填充詞,使語氣聽起來更慎重。 EN: Well, it's... primarily a matter of personal preference. 翻譯: 嗯,這…主要是個人喜好的問題。
EN:The issue is, primarily, how we allocate resources.
翻譯:問題在於,主要是,我們如何分配資源。
注意:在正式寫作(如學術論文、商業報告)中,應避免將 "primarily" 用作停頓填充詞,以保持文體的簡潔與嚴謹。
primarily focused on
adverb + past participle
主要專注於
primarily due to
adverb + prepositional phrase
主要由於
primarily concerned with
adverb + adjective + preposition
主要涉及;主要關心
primarily a [noun]
adverb + indefinite article + noun
主要是一個...
primarily based on
adverb + past participle + preposition
主要基於
primarily used for
adverb + past participle + preposition
主要用於
primarily consists of
adverb + verb + preposition
主要由...組成
×He is a primarily teacher.
✓He is primarily a teacher.
「primarily」是副詞,用來修飾動詞、形容詞或其他副詞,不能直接放在名詞前面。應放在動詞或助動詞之後,或句子的開頭。
×The primary reason is because he was tired.
✓He left primarily because he was tired.
「primary」是形容詞,用來修飾名詞(如 the primary reason)。「primarily」是副詞,用來修飾整個子句或動詞,表示「主要地、根本上」。在說明主要原因或動機時,常用「primarily」來修飾原因子句。
×It is mainly and primarily used for cooking.
✓It is primarily used for cooking.
「primarily」和「mainly」意思相近,都是「主要地」,同時使用會造成語意重複。應選擇其中一個即可。
×He primarily is a scientist.
✓He is primarily a scientist.
當句中有 be 動詞(am, is, are, was, were)時,副詞「primarily」通常放在 be 動詞之後。這是英文副詞修飾 be 動詞的常見位置。
×Primarily, we need to buy groceries. Secondly, we should clean the house.
✓First, we need to buy groceries. Second, we should clean the house.
「primarily」意思是「主要地、根本上」,強調重要性或主要目的,不用來列舉步驟的「第一點」。列舉順序應使用「First, ... Second, ...」或「Firstly, ... Secondly, ...」。
×He likes reading primarily and writing.
✓He likes reading and writing, but primarily reading.
「primarily」不直接與「and」連用來連接兩個對等項目。若要比較兩者並指出何者為主,應使用更完整的結構,如「... but primarily ...」或將「primarily」放在所強調的項目前。