primary
primary — 形容詞
1. more important, serious, or significant than anything else in a particular situa
主要的
最重要的；最關鍵的
more important, serious, or significant than anything else in a particular situation — for example, the primary reason for a decision, the primary goal of a project, or a person's primary responsibility at work.
The primary reason Feng moved to Taipei was the job offer from the university.
Feng 搬到臺北的主要原因是那所大學提供的工作機會。
primary + noun: primary reason
Safety is the primary concern when engineers design a new bridge.
工程師設計新橋的時候，安全是首要考量。
primary + noun: primary concern
Ada's primary responsibility at the animal shelter is caring for the older dogs.
Ada 在動物收容所的主要職責是照顧年紀較大的狗。
Reducing waste in the factory became the company's primary goal this year.
減少工廠廢棄物成了公司今年的首要目標。
The primary purpose of the new law is to protect renters from unfair eviction.
這項新法的主要目的是保護租戶免受不公平的驅逐。
- main
the everyday equivalent, wider register than primary
- principal
slightly more formal; often used for people (principal dancer) or abstract things (principal cause)
- chief
slightly dated; common in official job titles (chief executive)
- foremost
more literary or emphatic; suggests leading position among many
- secondary
less important than the primary concern or goal
- subordinate
lower in rank, often used in formal or organisational contexts
文法句型
primary + noun
用法筆記
Used almost always before a noun. Unlike most adjectives, 'primary' rarely appears after a linking verb to describe the subject (❌ 'This reason is primary.' ✅ 'This is the primary reason.').
常見錯誤
2. relating to the first stage of formal schooling, covering children from about ag
小學的
小學階段的；初等教育的
relating to the first stage of formal schooling, covering children from about age five up to around eleven, before they enter secondary school.
Eliska teaches music at a primary school in a village near Hsinchu.
Eliska 在竹南附近一所小學教音樂。
primary + noun: primary school
Primary education in Taiwan covers the first six years of compulsory schooling.
臺灣的小學教育涵蓋義務教育的頭六年。
primary + noun: primary education
The primary school near our house is organising a charity run next month.
我們家附近那所小學下個月要舉辦慈善路跑活動。
Lara's daughter started primary school last September and loves the art classes.
Lara 的女兒去年九月上小學，她非常喜歡美術課。
Many primary teachers use games and stories to help children learn to read.
許多小學老師會利用遊戲和故事來幫助孩子學習閱讀。
- elementary
more common in American English; covers the same age range
- early
broader term; can refer to any early stage, not just education
- secondary
relating to schooling for older children, typically ages 11-16 or 11-18
文法句型
primary + noun
用法筆記
Always used before a noun. In American English the term 'elementary school' is more common than 'primary school', though 'primary education' is used in both varieties. This sense does not apply to secondary or higher education.
常見錯誤
3. happening or developing first in a sequence, before other events, stages, or for
最初的
最先發生的；最早階段的
happening or developing first in a sequence, before other events, stages, or forms appear — for example, the primary stage of an illness, the primary layer of rock, or primary research data collected directly from original sources.
The primary stage of the project involves interviewing residents about their daily habits.
這個專案最初的階段包括訪談居民，了解他們的日常習慣。
primary + noun: primary stage
Archaeologists found evidence of primary settlements along the river dating back thousands of years.
考古學家在河邊發現了數千年前的早期聚落遺跡。
primary + noun: primary settlement
The primary symptoms of the illness appear within the first few days after infection.
這種疾病的初期症狀在感染後幾天內就會出現。
In the primary phase of the experiment, Shanti tested the drug on twenty volunteers.
在實驗的初期階段，Shanti 在二十名志願者身上測試了這種藥物。
The primary layer of rock holds fossils millions of years older than the layer above it.
最底層的岩石含有比上層岩石古老數百萬年的化石。
文法句型
primary + noun
用法筆記
Always used before a noun. When describing the first item in a simple sequence, 'first' is more common in everyday speech. 'Primary' carries a slightly more formal or scientific tone and often implies an early stage within a larger process or system.
primary — 名詞
1. a vote held in the United States to select the person that a political party wil
初選
政黨提名候選人的選舉
a vote held in the United States to select the person that a political party will put forward as its candidate in the main election for an office such as president, senator, or governor.
New Hampshire voters go to the polls in February for the first primary of the season.
新罕布夏州的選民在二月前往投票所，參與本季第一場初選。
first primary of the [season]
Turnout for the Democratic primary in Ohio was much higher than anyone had expected.
俄亥俄州民主黨初選的投票率遠高於所有人的預期。
[party] + primary
Several candidates are competing in the Republican primary for a seat in the Senate.
有好幾位候選人正在角逐共和黨的參議員初選。
The primary determines which candidate will represent each party in the general election in November.
初選決定哪一位候選人將代表各政黨參加十一月的普選。
Mark spent the weekend volunteering at a polling station during the state primary.
Mark 在州初選期間志願在投票所服務。
- primary election
the full form of the term, used in more formal contexts
- primary contest
emphasises the competitive nature of the election
- primary race
informal; focuses on the campaign aspect
- general election
the final election in which the public chooses the officeholder from the candidates selected in the primary
用法筆記
This is the general sense covering all types of US primary elections. For subtypes, see the 'closed primary' and 'open primary' senses. In informal speech, 'primary' is often shortened to just 'a primary' (e.g. 'She won the primary.'). The word is rarely used for elections outside the United States.
常見錯誤
2. a primary election whose rules restrict voting to people who have formally regis
封閉式初選
僅限黨員投票的初選
a primary election whose rules restrict voting to people who have formally registered with that political party — independent and unaffiliated voters are not allowed to take part.
In a closed primary, only registered Democrats may vote for Democratic candidates.
在封閉式初選中，只有登記為民主黨的選民才能投票給民主黨候選人。
closed primary — party membership restriction
Obi could not vote in the Republican primary because he is registered as an independent voter.
Obi 無法在共和黨的封閉式初選中投票，因為他登記為無黨籍選民。
New York is one of several US states that use a closed primary system.
紐約是美國少數採用封閉式初選制度的州之一。
Supporters of closed primaries argue that they prevent members of other parties from influencing the outcome.
支持封閉式初選的人認為，這種制度可以防止其他政黨的成員影響選舉結果。
Paloma joined the party so she could vote in the closed primary for her preferred candidate.
Paloma 加入了政黨，這樣她才能在封閉式初選中投票給她屬意的候選人。
- open primary
a primary in which any registered voter can participate, regardless of party affiliation
用法筆記
Used in contrast to 'open primary'. In a closed primary, party membership is checked at the polling station. Some states have 'semi-closed' primaries where independents may choose which party's primary to vote in.
3. a type of primary election in which any registered voter may choose which party'
開放式初選
所有選民可選任一黨選票的初選
a type of primary election in which any registered voter may choose which party's ballot to vote on, regardless of their own party affiliation — even voters who are not members of any party can participate.
In an open primary, voters can request either party's ballot at the polling station.
在開放式初選中，選民可以在投票站索取任一政黨的選票。
open primary — any voter may choose a party ballot
Zayd voted in the Democratic open primary even though he usually supports Republican candidates.
Zayd 雖然通常支持共和黨候選人，但他這次在民主黨的開放式初選中投了票。
Texas has an open primary system that lets voters pick a party on election day.
德州採用開放式初選制度，選民可以在投票當天選擇要參與哪一個政黨的初選。
Supporters of open primaries say the system encourages more people to vote.
支持開放式初選的人認為，這種制度能鼓勵更多人出來投票。
The state switched from a closed to an open primary after a public referendum in 2018.
該州在 2018 年公民投票後，從封閉式初選改為開放式初選。
- closed primary
a primary in which only registered party members may vote
用法筆記
Used in contrast to 'closed primary'. In an open primary, a voter must choose one party's ballot and cannot split their votes across parties. Critics argue it allows 'raiding' — members of one party voting for a weaker candidate in the other party's primary.
primary — 動詞
1. to challenge a current officeholder during a primary contest, aiming to replace
挑戰；逼退
在初選中挑戰現任者
to challenge a current officeholder during a primary contest, aiming to replace them as the party's nominee for the general election — used especially when a challenger from the same party tries to unseat a sitting politician.
The young activist decided to primary the long-serving senator from her own district.
這位年輕的社運人士決定在自己選區挑戰這位長期擔任參議員的現任者。
primary + [sitting politician]
Several progressive groups have announced they will primary moderate incumbents in the upcoming election cycle.
好幾個進步派團體宣布，他們將在下一屆選舉中挑戰溫和派的現任者。
primary + incumbents
It is still rare for a challenger to successfully primary a sitting member of Congress.
挑戰者要在初選中成功扳倒現任國會議員，至今仍然很少見。
The party leadership tried to discourage anyone from attempting to primary the current governor.
政黨領導層試圖勸阻任何人挑戰現任州長。
Ilan raised enough money to primary the incumbent representative in the upcoming election.
Ilan 籌到了足夠的資金，要在即將到來的選舉中挑戰現任眾議員。
文法句型
primary + someone
用法筆記
An informal, relatively new verb that has emerged in US political journalism and commentary since the 1990s. It is not used in formal political science writing. The object is always the incumbent being challenged. The verb carries a strong implication of ideological opposition within the same party.