vital

vital — 形容詞

1. So important or necessary that without it, a plan, system, activity, or living t

1.形容詞B1
釋義

至關重要

對成功或存續極其必要的

So important or necessary that without it, a plan, system, activity, or living thing would fail or be unable to continue.

例句

Clean drinking water is vital for the health of every community.

乾淨的飲用水對每個社區的健康至關重要。

collocation: vital for [something]

The fire department plays a vital role in keeping the city safe.

消防局在維護城市安全方面扮演至關重要的角色。

collocation: vital role in [something]

同義詞
  • essential

    very close in meaning; 'vital' often implies something is needed for continued existence, while 'essential' is used more broadly for any important component.

  • crucial

    focuses on a decisive moment or turning point; 'vital' is broader in scope.

  • critical

    emphasises a situation at a point of crisis or potential failure; can carry a stronger sense of urgency than 'vital'.

反義詞
  • unnecessary

    complete opposite; 'vital' implies necessity, while 'unnecessary' means not needed at all.

  • nonessential

    common in business and logistics contexts to describe something that can be done without.

文法句型

vital + noun

it is vital that + clause (subjunctive)

vital for [someone/something]

vital to [someone/something]

用法筆記

Frequently used in the pattern 'it is vital that + clause', where the verb in the that-clause is often in the subjunctive form (e.g., It is vital that every student receive training). The prepositions 'for' and 'to' introduce the purpose or beneficiary (vital for the project, vital to our success).

常見錯誤

❌It is vital important to arrive early.
✅It is vital to arrive early.' or 'It is vitally important to arrive early.
💡'vital' is an adjective, so it cannot modify another adjective; use the adverb 'vitally' before 'important'.

2. Having or showing an eager, lively energy that makes a person, place, or perform

2.形容詞B2
釋義

充滿活力

精力充沛、富有朝氣的

Having or showing an eager, lively energy that makes a person, place, or performance feel active and animated.

例句

Mira's vital energy filled the room as she described her travel adventures.

Mira 描述她的旅行經歷時，那股充滿活力的能量充滿了整個房間。

collocation: vital energy

The children were still vital and playful after a long day at the theme park.

孩子們在主題樂園玩了一整天後，依然精力充沛、活潑好動。

同義詞
  • energetic

    more common and neutral in everyday speech; 'vital' carries an additional nuance of inner life force.

  • lively

    focuses on outward activity and spirit; 'vital' can imply deeper, more sustained energy.

  • vigorous

    suggests physical strength and healthy energy; 'vital' is more often about personality and spirit.

反義詞
  • lethargic

    the opposite of having lively energy and enthusiasm.

  • lifeless

    contrasts with the 'full of life' meaning that 'vital' carries in this sense.

文法句型

vital + noun

be + vital

用法筆記

Less common than sense 1 (ESSENTIAL); this meaning can sound formal or literary. In everyday conversation, 'energetic' or 'lively' are more natural alternatives.

常見錯誤

❌She is a very vital person who exercises daily.
✅She is a very energetic person who exercises daily.
💡For describing everyday physical energy, 'energetic' is more natural; 'vital' in this sense carries a more literary or formal tone.

3. Connected with the basic biological functions and processes that keep living bei

3.形容詞B2
釋義

生命的；維生

與維持生命有關的

Connected with the basic biological functions and processes that keep living beings alive, such as the beating of the heart or the flow of blood through the body.

例句

The brain is the most vital organ, controlling everything the body does.

大腦是最重要的生命器官，控制著身體所做的一切。

collocation: vital organ

Nurses monitored Obi's vital signs throughout the night after his surgery.

護士們在 Obi 手術後整夜監測他的生命徵象。

collocation: vital signs

同義詞
  • life-sustaining

    more literal and descriptive; 'vital' is more common as a compact medical term.

  • biological

    broader in scope; 'vital' specifically relates to processes necessary for staying alive.

反義詞
  • non-living

    in biological contexts, describes matter or processes unrelated to life.

文法句型

vital + noun

用法筆記

Common in medical and biological writing. Frequently appears in fixed phrases such as 'vital signs' (pulse, temperature, blood pressure, breathing rate), 'vital organs' (heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, liver), and 'vital functions' (breathing, circulation, digestion).

常見錯誤

❌The doctor checked his vital signs and said there were no vital concerns.
✅The doctor checked his vital signs and said there were no major concerns.
💡In medical contexts, 'vital' is used in specific fixed phrases like 'vital signs' and 'vital organs'; it is not a general substitute for 'important'.