mainstay

IPA/ˈmeɪnsteɪ/
KK[mˈenstˌe]IPA/ˈmeɪnsteɪ/

mainstay — 名詞

1. A person or thing that forms the strongest, most reliable part of a group, activ

1.名詞B2
釋義

支柱

支撐整體最重要的部分或人物

A person or thing that forms the strongest, most reliable part of a group, activity, or system — the element on which everything else depends for its continued existence or success.

例句

Rice has long been a mainstay of the Japanese diet, appearing in almost every meal.

米飯長久以來一直是日本飲食的支柱，幾乎每餐都會出現。

mainstay of [economy/diet/team] — pattern for naming the essential part

After the head coach retired, Mei-Lin became the mainstay of the school's volleyball program.

總教練退休後，Mei-Lin 成了學校排球隊的中流砥柱。

常見搭配
  • mainstay of the economy
  • mainstay of the team
  • mainstay of the family
  • mainstay of the diet
  • mainstay of the community
同義詞
  • backbone

    Very close in meaning; emphasizes structural necessity that keeps something moving or functioning

  • pillar

    Highlights upright, visible strength; often used for prominent people rather than things

  • cornerstone

    Emphasizes foundational importance, as the first stone laid in a building determines the whole structure

  • foundation

    Broader in scope; refers to the base upon which something rests, not necessarily its most active part

反義詞
  • weak link

    The least reliable part that threatens the whole

  • accessory

    Something added on that is helpful but not essential

文法句型

be the mainstay of something

become a mainstay

serve as a mainstay

用法筆記

Typically used in the pattern 'the mainstay of [something]' to name the most essential support of an activity, economy, or group. It is a count noun but most often appears in the singular form.

常見錯誤

She is the mainstay support of the team.
She is the mainstay of the team.
mainstay already means "chief support," so adding the word support is redundant.
Corn are the mainstay of the local diet.
Corn is the mainstay of the local diet.
mainstay takes a singular verb even when the subject is a mass noun.

同根字

  • mainstays
    noun (plural)B2

常見搭配

名詞搭配

  • economic mainstay
  • financial mainstay
  • agricultural mainstay
  • traditional mainstay

介系詞搭配

  • mainstay of
  • mainstay in