gist

/dʒɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /dʒɪst/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈjist/ (ame, mw)

gist — noun

1. The essential meaning or most important point of what someone says or writes, le

1.名詞B2
釋義

The essential meaning or most important point of what someone says or writes, leaving aside the supporting details.

例句

Yuki listened carefully to the lecture and wrote down the gist of what the professor said.

the gist of [noun phrase] — identifying the main idea from speech

The article was long, but the gist was that the company needed major changes.

the gist + that-clause — stating the main point

同義詞
  • essence

    More abstract; refers to the fundamental nature rather than the meaning of words — 'essence' goes deeper than 'gist'

  • core

    The central part of an idea or topic; can apply to both concrete and abstract things

  • main point

    More informal and explicit; 'the main point' directly labels what 'gist' means

  • substance

    Slightly more formal; the most important content of a discussion or document

反義詞
  • detail

    The small, specific pieces of information that the gist leaves out

  • nuance

    A subtle shade of meaning that is lost when you only get the gist

文法句型

the gist of [noun phrase]

get/catch/understand the gist

用法筆記

Common in the pattern 'the gist of [something]' with the definite article. Frequently used with verbs like 'get', 'catch', 'understand', 'grasp'. Rarely appears in the plural, and never as a verb.

常見錯誤

❌I gisted the article before the meeting.
✅I got the gist of the article before the meeting.
💡Gist is a noun, not a verb; you get/catch the gist of something.
❌The gists of both speeches were the same.
✅The gist of both speeches was the same.
💡Gist is uncountable in this sense and stays singular.