chief

adjective

/tʃiːf/

[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.他成为了《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改革可能对小企业产生冲击。
Synonyms main
mainmajor ▪ key ▪ central ▪ principal ▪ chief ▪ primeThese words all describe somebody/something that is the largest or most important of its kind.
main [only before noun] largest or most important:
Be careful crossing the main road.过大马路时小心点儿。
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。
When major is used with the or my/your/his/her/our/their it means ‘the largest or most important’: Our major concern here is combating poverty. In this meaning it is only used to talk about ideas or worries that people have, not physical things, and it is also more formal than main: Be careful crossing the major road. • The major thing is to remain calm. 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。
Key is used most frequently in business and political contexts. It can be used to talk about ideas, or the part that somebody plays in a situation, but not physical things. It is slightly more informal than major, especially when used after a noun and linking verb: Speed is key at this point. central (rather formal) most important:
The central issue is that of widespread racism.最重要的问题是种族主义到处泛滥。
Central is used in a similar way to key, but is more formal. It is most frequently used in the phrase something is central to something else. principal [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:
The principal reason for this omission is lack of time.跳过它的主要原因是时间不足。
Principal is mostly used for statements of fact about which there can be no argument. To state an opinion, or to try to persuade somebody of the facts as you see them, it is more usual to use key or central: The key/central issue here is… chief [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:
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。
Patterns
- 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 noun
Adjectives that only come before a noun
- all-round
- antenatal
- aspiring
- chief
- dedicated
- eventual
- express
- high-flying
- live
- lone
- mere
- mitigating
- rogue
- sheer
- standout
- ulterior
- utter
Extra Examples
- Her 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某事的主要代表
- the chief suspect in the case本案的主要嫌疑人
- the chief guest at the function活动的主要嘉宾
- 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世界银行首席经济学家
- She is Chief Medical Officer for England.她是英格兰的首席医疗官。
- the chief minister/secretary首席部长/秘书
- the chief Washington correspondent for CBS News哥伦比亚广播公司新闻驻华盛顿首席记者
- 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.他成为大西部铁路的总工程师。
- 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) of the highest rank最高级别的；为首的
- commander-in-chief总司令；最高统帅
see also chiefly, editor-in-chief

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French chief, chef, based on Latin caput ‘head’.

chief

noun

/tʃiːf/

Idioms

a person with a high rank or the highest rank in a company or an organization（公司或机构的）首领，头目，最高领导人
- army/police chiefs部队首长；警察首脑
- She is Washington bureau chief for ‘USA Today’.她是《今日美国》华盛顿分社社长。
- industry chiefs工业界领袖
- education chiefs at Sheffield Council谢菲尔德议会教育主管
- chief of somebody/something He served as chief of police between 2002 and 2009.他在 2002 年至 2009 年间担任警察首脑。
- our new chief of operations我们的新任运营主管
see also Big Chief, editor-in-chief, fire chief
Extra Examples
- Sanger was appointed chief of the Fire Department.桑格被任命为消防局局长。
- Health chiefs say waiting times are down.卫生事务负责人说看病等候的时间缩短了。
- Politicians are demanding the resignation of the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.政客们要求洛杉矶警察局局长辞职。
- Security chiefs are keeping their men on full alert after the bomb threat.炸弹威胁发生后，安全负责人让他们的人员保持高度戒备。
- Virgin chief, Richard Branson, may take legal action against the newspaper.维京公司最高领导人理查德•布兰森有可能会起诉这家报纸。
- We spoke to a former CIA chief of European operations.我们与美国中央情报局前任欧洲部最高领导人交谈过。
Topics People in societyb2, Jobsb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- tribal
- village
- army
- …
verb + chief
- appoint (somebody)
- become
- name somebody
- …
phrases
- chief of police
- chief of staff
(often as a title) a leader of a people or community首领；酋长；族长
- Chief Buthelezi布特莱齐酋长
- Chief Crazy Horse“疯马”酋长
Topics People in societyb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- tribal
- village
- army
- …
verb + chief
- appoint (somebody)
- become
- name somebody
- …
phrases
- chief of police
- chief of staff

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French chief, chef, based on Latin caput ‘head’.

Idioms

too many chiefs and not enough Indians

(British English, informal) used to describe a situation in which there are too many people telling other people what to do, and not enough people to do the work将多兵少；官多兵少

单词	chief
释义	chief adjective /tʃiːf/ /tʃiːf/ [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.他成为了《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改革可能对小企业产生冲击。 Synonyms mainmainmajor ▪ key ▪ central ▪ principal ▪ chief ▪ primeThese words all describe somebody/something that is the largest or most important of its kind.main [only before noun] largest or most important: Be careful crossing the main road.过大马路时小心点儿。 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。 When major is used with the or my/your/his/her/our/their it means ‘the largest or most important’: Our major concern here is combating poverty. In this meaning it is only used to talk about ideas or worries that people have, not physical things, and it is also more formal than main: Be careful crossing the major road. • The major thing is to remain calm. 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。 Key is used most frequently in business and political contexts. It can be used to talk about ideas, or the part that somebody plays in a situation, but not physical things. It is slightly more informal than major, especially when used after a noun and linking verb: Speed is key at this point. central (rather formal) most important: The central issue is that of widespread racism.最重要的问题是种族主义到处泛滥。 Central is used in a similar way to key, but is more formal. It is most frequently used in the phrase something is central to something else. principal [only before noun] (rather formal) most important: The principal reason for this omission is lack of time.跳过它的主要原因是时间不足。 Principal is mostly used for statements of fact about which there can be no argument. To state an opinion, or to try to persuade somebody of the facts as you see them, it is more usual to use key or central: The key/central issue here is… chief [only before noun] (rather formal) most important: 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。 Patterns 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 noun all-round antenatal aspiring chief dedicated eventual express high-flying live lone mere mitigating rogue sheer standout ulterior utter Extra Examples Her 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某事的主要代表 the chief suspect in the case本案的主要嫌疑人 the chief guest at the function活动的主要嘉宾 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世界银行首席经济学家 She is Chief Medical Officer for England.她是英格兰的首席医疗官。 the chief minister/secretary首席部长/秘书 the chief Washington correspondent for CBS News哥伦比亚广播公司新闻驻华盛顿首席记者 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.他成为大西部铁路的总工程师。 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) of the highest rank最高级别的；为首的 commander-in-chief总司令；最高统帅 see also chiefly, editor-in-chief Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French chief, chef, based on Latin caput ‘head’. chief noun /tʃiːf/ /tʃiːf/ Idioms a person with a high rank or the highest rank in a company or an organization（公司或机构的）首领，头目，最高领导人 army/police chiefs部队首长；警察首脑 She is Washington bureau chief for ‘USA Today’.她是《今日美国》华盛顿分社社长。 industry chiefs工业界领袖 education chiefs at Sheffield Council谢菲尔德议会教育主管 chief of somebody/something He served as chief of police between 2002 and 2009.他在 2002 年至 2009 年间担任警察首脑。 our new chief of operations我们的新任运营主管 see also Big Chief, editor-in-chief, fire chief Extra Examples Sanger was appointed chief of the Fire Department.桑格被任命为消防局局长。 Health chiefs say waiting times are down.卫生事务负责人说看病等候的时间缩短了。 Politicians are demanding the resignation of the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.政客们要求洛杉矶警察局局长辞职。 Security chiefs are keeping their men on full alert after the bomb threat.炸弹威胁发生后，安全负责人让他们的人员保持高度戒备。 Virgin chief, Richard Branson, may take legal action against the newspaper.维京公司最高领导人理查德•布兰森有可能会起诉这家报纸。 We spoke to a former CIA chief of European operations.我们与美国中央情报局前任欧洲部最高领导人交谈过。 Topics People in societyb2, Jobsb2 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective tribal village army … verb + chief appoint (somebody) become name somebody … phrases chief of police chief of staff (often as a title) a leader of a people or community首领；酋长；族长 Chief Buthelezi布特莱齐酋长 Chief Crazy Horse“疯马”酋长 Topics People in societyb2 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective tribal village army … verb + chief appoint (somebody) become name somebody … phrases chief of police chief of staff Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French chief, chef, based on Latin caput ‘head’. Idioms too many chiefs and not enough Indians (British English, informal) used to describe a situation in which there are too many people telling other people what to do, and not enough people to do the work将多兵少；官多兵少
随便看	hit the hay/sack hit the headlines hit the jackpot hit the mark hit the nail on the head hit-the-nail-on-the-head hit-the-panic-button hit the right note hit the road hit-the-road hit the road/trail hit the roof hit-the-roof hit the sack hit-the-sack hit-the-silk hit the spot hit-the-spot hit the trail hit the wall hit-the-wall hit the woodwork hit the wrong note hitting hitting-off