major
/ˈmeɪdʒə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmeɪdʒər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmā-jər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈmeɪ.dʒər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmeɪ.dʒɚ/ (ame, ipa)
major — 形容詞
- majorpositive
- more majorcomparative
- most majorsuperlative
1. extremely large in size, importance, or effect — used to describe things that ma
重大的
規模、重要性或影響力很大的
extremely large in size, importance, or effect — used to describe things that matter a great deal, such as a major decision, a major problem, a major city, or a major change.
The company faces a major financial crisis after losing its biggest client.
這家公司在失去最大客戶後面臨重大的財務危機。
attributive: major + noun (crisis)
Hari had to make a major decision about whether to move to Japan for work.
Hari 必須做出一個重大決定：是否要搬到日本工作。
A major earthquake struck the region, causing widespread damage to buildings.
該地區發生了一場重大的地震，造成許多建築物嚴重受損。
The difference in price is not major, so choosing the cheaper option makes sense.
兩者之間的價格差異不大，所以選擇較便宜的選項是合理的。
- significant
less emotionally charged; used for measurable effects or data
- serious
emphasises danger or negative consequences rather than size
- critical
suggests urgency and risk of failure
- substantial
focuses on size or amount rather than importance
文法句型
major + noun
be + major
用法筆記
Use this sense for things that are notably big or consequential. It is stronger than 'important' — a major problem is one that threatens to cause serious harm. Frequently followed by nouns like 'change', 'issue', 'role', 'factor'.
常見錯誤
2. describing a type of musical scale, key, or chord that most people hear as cheer
大調的
聽起來明亮、愉快的音階或調性
describing a type of musical scale, key, or chord that most people hear as cheerful, bright, or uplifting — for example, a major key tends to sound happier than a minor key.
Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 is written in A major and feels energetic and joyful.
貝多芬的第七號交響曲以 A 大調寫成，聽起來充滿活力且歡快。
pattern: in + [note] + major
The song shifts from a sad minor key to a bright major key during the chorus.
這首歌在副歌部分從憂傷的小調轉變為明亮的大調。
contrast: major vs minor key
Mizuki is learning to play a C major scale on the piano for her first exam.
Mizuki 正在為她的第一次考試學習用鋼琴彈奏 C 大調音階。
The choir sang a joyful piece written in F major on Sunday morning.
週日早上，合唱團演唱了一首以 F 大調寫成的歡樂曲子。
- minor
the opposite musical quality, typically described as sad or dark
文法句型
major + noun (key, scale, chord, third)
用法筆記
Always appears before a musical noun: major key, major scale, major chord, major third. The opposite is 'minor'. In music theory, a major scale has a specific pattern of whole and half steps that gives it a bright character.
常見錯誤
3. describing the highest level of North American professional team sports such as
大聯盟的
北美職業運動最高層級的
describing the highest level of North American professional team sports such as baseball — these leagues feature the best players and attract the largest live audiences.
Caleb dreamed of playing Major League baseball ever since he was a child.
Caleb 從小就夢想打美國職棒大聯盟。
proper noun: Major League + sport
The team was promoted from a minor league to a major league after winning the championship.
這支球隊在贏得冠軍後從小聯盟晉升到大聯盟。
contrast: minor league → major league
Major League teams travel across the country for away games during the season.
大聯盟球隊在球季期間會飛往全國各地參加客場比賽。
Fans lined up for hours to buy tickets for the major league play-off game.
球迷們排隊數小時，只為購買大聯盟季後賽的門票。
- top-tier
broader use, not limited to North American sports leagues
- minor-league
the lower-level leagues that serve as development systems
文法句型
Major League + noun
major-league + noun
用法筆記
Often capitalised as 'Major League' when referring to the official North American organisations (MLB, NHL). The hyphenated form 'major-league' can also be used informally as an adjective meaning 'top-level' or 'first-rate'.
major — 名詞
- majorsingular
- majorsplural
1. a person holding the military rank that lies between captain and lieutenant colo
少校
軍隊中階軍官，高於上尉低於中校
a person holding the military rank that lies between captain and lieutenant colonel in land, air, and marine service branches.
Major Obi was awarded a medal for leading his unit through enemy territory.
Obi 少校因率領部隊穿越敵方領土而獲頒勳章。
title before surname: Major + [name]
The major ordered the soldiers to set up camp before nightfall.
少校命令士兵們在天黑前紮營。
countable: the + major
After eight years of service, Captain Sumin was promoted to major.
Sumin 上尉服役八年後晉升為少校。
The retired major now teaches military history at a local college.
這位退役少校現在在當地一所大學教授軍事史。
文法句型
a/the + major
Major + surname (as title)
用法筆記
When used as a title before a name, 'Major' is capitalised (e.g. Major Hassan). As a common noun describing the rank, it is lowercase. The rank exists in the UK, US, and many other armed forces.
常見錯誤
2. the primary subject a person chooses to concentrate on at a university, or a lea
主修
大學生的主要學習領域或主修該科的學生
the primary subject a person chooses to concentrate on at a university, or a learner focused on that subject — a history major, for instance, is someone whose main academic focus is history.
Vikram chose computer science as his major because he wanted to work in software.
Vikram 選擇電腦科學作為他的主修科目，因為他想從事軟體開發。
pattern: [subject] as one's major
Brooke is a biology major who plans to attend medical school after graduation.
Brooke 是生物學主修生，計劃畢業後進入醫學院。
pattern: [subject] + major (student)
What is your major — business, engineering, or something else?
你的主修是什麼——商學、工程學，還是別的？
The university offers over forty different majors for undergraduate students to choose from.
這所大學為大學部學生提供超過四十種不同的主修科目。
- field of study
more formal and general; not limited to American university system
- specialisation
used in British English for the focused area within a degree
- minor
a secondary subject studied with less depth than the major
文法句型
a + major + in + [subject]
[subject] + major
用法筆記
This sense is primarily used in US and Canadian English. In British English, the equivalent term is usually 'course' or 'degree programme'. To describe someone studying a subject, the British say 'a history student', not 'a history major'.
常見錯誤
3. one of the most important professional competitions in a sport, especially golf
大賽
職業高爾夫或網球界最重要的比賽
one of the most important professional competitions in a sport, especially golf or tennis — winning a major is the highest achievement in that sport.
Winning all four tennis majors in a single year is called a Grand Slam.
一年內贏得全部四項網球大賽冠軍被稱為「大滿貫」。
collocation: win a major
Joaquín finished second at the US Open golf major last year.
Joaquín 去年在美國高爾夫公開賽這項大賽中獲得第二名。
sport + major
The four tennis majors are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
四項網球大賽分別是澳洲公開賽、法國公開賽、溫布頓錦標賽和美國公開賽。
Winning a golf major can change a player's career and earnings overnight.
贏得一項高爾夫大賽可以在短時間內改變選手的職業生涯和收入。
- championship
broader term; not every championship is a major, but all majors are championships
- Grand Slam event
specifically used for the four major tennis tournaments
文法句型
win/play + a major
the + [number] + majors
用法筆記
In golf, the four majors are the Masters, the PGA Championship, the US Open, and The Open Championship (British Open). In tennis, the four majors make up the Grand Slam events. The word is also used for major tournaments in bowling and some other sports.
4. the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, cons
大聯盟
北美最高級別的職業棒球聯盟
the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of the American League and the National League, where the best players compete.
After three seasons in the minor leagues, Eli finally made it to the majors.
在小聯盟待了三個球季後，Eli 終於進入了大聯盟。
collocation: make it to the majors
The player hit over forty home runs in his first year in the majors.
這位選手在大聯盟的第一年就擊出了超過四十支全壘打。
preposition: in the majors
Very few baseball players get the chance to play in the majors for more than a few seasons.
很少有棒球選手有機會在大聯盟打超過幾個球季。
The young pitcher hopes to reach the majors before his twenty-first birthday.
這位年輕的投手希望在二十一歲生日前晉升到大聯盟。
- Major League Baseball
the official name of the organisation that operates the majors
- the big leagues
informal synonym, also used figuratively outside sports
- the minors
the lower-level professional leagues that develop players for the majors
文法句型
the majors
play in the majors
make it to the majors
用法筆記
Often capitalised as 'the Majors'. The singular 'major' is less common — speakers typically say 'the majors' or 'Major League Baseball' (MLB). This sense overlaps partly with the adjective sense 'major league' but functions as a noun referring to the league itself.
major — 動詞
- majorpresent simple I / you / we / they
- majors3rd person singular
- majoring-ing form
- majoredpast simple
1. to study a particular subject as the main focus of your university degree — for
專攻
以某學科為大學主要學習領域
to study a particular subject as the main focus of your university degree — for example, if you major in economics, economics takes up most of your course credits.
Meera decided to major in environmental science after volunteering at a national park.
Meera 在國家公園擔任志工後，決定主修環境科學。
pattern: major in + [subject]
Christopher majored in philosophy as an undergraduate before studying law.
Christopher 在大學部主修哲學，之後才攻讀法律。
past tense: majored in
Students who major in engineering must take many mathematics and physics courses.
主修工程學的學生必須修讀許多數學和物理課程。
What do you plan to major in when you go to university next year?
你明年上大學打算主修什麼？
- specialise in
used in British English and for postgraduate studies; broader than 'major in'
文法句型
major in + [subject]
用法筆記
Always followed by 'in + subject name'. The object of study cannot come directly after 'major' — you cannot say 'major economics', only 'major in economics'. This is primarily US and Canadian usage; British English uses 'study' or 'read' instead.
常見錯誤
major — 慣用語
1. Sir John Major (born 1943) served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1
梅傑
英國前首相（1990-1997 年在任）
Sir John Major (born 1943) served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1990 to 1997, succeeding Margaret Thatcher and leading the Conservative Party.
Sir John Major was the Prime Minister who signed the Maastricht Treaty for the UK.
約翰·梅傑爵士是代表英國簽署《馬斯垂克條約》的首相。
historical figure reference
During Sir John Major's term, the UK experienced an economic downturn in the early 1990s.
在約翰·梅傑爵士任期內，英國在 1990 年代初期經歷了經濟衰退。
Sir John Major became Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher left office in 1990.
約翰·梅傑爵士於 1990 年在柴契爾夫人卸任後成為首相。
Sir John Major was a key figure in the Northern Ireland peace process in the 1990s.
約翰·梅傑爵士在 1990 年代的北愛爾蘭和平進程中扮演了關鍵角色。