主 zhǔ lord
lord; main; owner; host
How it came to be
A lamp standing on its foot, with the flame drawn as a dot on top. The word was borrowed for the master of a house, its lord, and the lamp was forgotten.
How it is used
- Owner / host / master, and 'main/primary' - 主人 (zhǔrén) host/owner, 主要 (zhǔyào) main, 主动 (zhǔdòng) take the initiative.
- As 'chief' it heads titles: 主任 (zhǔrèn) director, 主席 (zhǔxí) chairperson, 主持 (zhǔchí) host/preside.
- 主意 (zhǔyi) = an idea/plan, often toneless yi: 好主意 (hǎo zhǔyi) good idea. Contrast 主观 (zhǔguān, subjective) with 客观 (kèguān, objective).
Characters built with 主
Words with 主
- 主要zhǔyàomainHSK 3
- 主意zhǔyiplanHSK 4
- 主人zhǔrénmasterHSK 5
- 主任zhǔrèndirectorHSK 5
- 主动zhǔdòngto take the initiativeHSK 5
- 主席zhǔxíchairpersonHSK 5
- 主持zhǔchíto take charge ofHSK 5
- 主观zhǔguānsubjectiveHSK 5
- 主题zhǔtíthemeHSK 5
- 主食zhǔshístaple foodHSK 5
- 车主chēzhǔvehicle ownerHSK 5
- 主办zhǔbànto organizeHSK 6
- 主导zhǔdǎoleadingHSK 6
- 主张zhǔzhāngto advocateHSK 6
- 主播zhǔbōanchorHSK 6
- 主流zhǔliúmain stream (of a river)HSK 6
- 主演zhǔyǎnto play the leading roleHSK 6
- 主管zhǔguǎnin chargeHSK 6
- 主角zhǔjuéleading roleHSK 6
- 公主gōngzhǔprincessHSK 6
- 民主mínzhǔdemocracyHSK 6
- 不由自主bùyóuzìzhǔcan't help butHSK 7
- 东道主dōngdàozhǔhostHSK 7
- 主人公zhǔréngōnghero (of a novel or film)HSK 7
- 主体zhǔtǐmain partHSK 7
- 主力zhǔlìmain forceHSK 7
- 主打zhǔdǎprincipalHSK 7
- 主页zhǔyèhome pageHSK 7
- 做主zuòzhǔto take charge; to make the decisionHSK 7
- 自主zìzhǔto act independentlyHSK 7
- 主义zhǔyì-ismHSK 8
- 主宰zhǔzǎito dominateHSK 8
- 主权zhǔquánsovereigntyHSK 8
- 主编zhǔbiāneditor in chiefHSK 8
- 主题曲zhǔtíqǔtheme songHSK 8
- 社会主义shèhuìzhǔyìsocialismHSK 9
- 资本主义zīběnzhǔyìcapitalismHSK 9
- 雇主gùzhǔemployerHSK 9
Example sentences
- 我觉得这个主意不错。 Wǒ juéde zhège zhǔyi búcuò.I think that's a good idea.
- 这是城市的主要街道。 Zhè shì chéngshì de zhǔyào jiēdào.This is the main road through the city.
- 主任总结了发言。 Zhǔrèn zǒngjiéle fāyán.The director summarized the presentations.
- 店主给我找零钱。 Diànzhǔ gěi wǒ zhǎo língqián.The shop owner gave me the change.