我们开门见山,直接说重点。想在英语里表达“最重要的是”,你脑子里第一个跳出来的词可能是“Most importantly”。这个词没错,完全可以用,但它只是冰山一角。如果你想让自己的英语听起来更地道、更贴切,你至少需要知道下面这些说法,并且明白在什么场景下用哪个最合适。
第一梯队:最常见也最直接的表达
这一组的词,基本就是“最重要的是”的直接翻译,用在句首或者句中,引出你要强调的核心观点。
1. Most importantly
这是最标准、最通用的说法,可以用在任何场合,不管是写邮件、做演讲,还是日常聊天。它是一个副词,用来强调接下来要说的信息是所有信息里最重要的。
- 用法示例:
- “When you’re preparing for a job interview, you need to research the company, practice your answers, and, most importantly, be confident.”
(准备工作面试时,你需要研究公司、练习回答,但最重要的是,要自信。)
- “Most importantly, we need to make sure our customers are happy.”
(最重要的是,我们要确保客户满意。)
- “When you’re preparing for a job interview, you need to research the company, practice your answers, and, most importantly, be confident.”
2. The most important thing is…
这个说法更像一个完整的句子结构,语气比 “Most importantly” 更口语化一点,也更强调 “事情” 本身。当你想要明确指出一个核心的“事实”或“原则”时,用它特别好。
- 用法示例:
- “We can argue about the details later. The most important thing is that we all agree on the final goal.”
(细节我们之后再争论。最重要的是我们对最终目标意见一致。)
- “Forget about who was right or wrong. The most important thing is to solve the problem now.”
(别管谁对谁错了,最重要的是现在就解决问题。)
- “We can argue about the details later. The most important thing is that we all agree on the final goal.”
第二梯队:听起来更“有文化”的进阶版
下面这几个词,意思和第一梯队的差不多,但在语气和正式程度上略有不同。用好了,能让你的表达加分不少。
1. Above all
这个词组听起来就比 “Most importantly” 要更正式、更有力一点。它强调的是“在所有其他事情之上”,有一种最终的、压倒性的重要性。用在书面语或者比较严肃的演讲里,效果很好。
- 用法区别:
- “Most importantly” 强调的是列表中的一个重点。
- “Above all” 强调的是一个凌驾于所有事物之上的原则或信念。
- 用法示例:
- “A good leader must be decisive, intelligent, and a great communicator. Above all, she must be honest.”
(一个好领导必须果断、聪明、善于沟通。但最重要的是,她必须诚实。)
- “He taught his children many things, but above all, he taught them to be kind.”
(他教给孩子们很多东西,但最重要的是,他教他们要善良。)
- “A good leader must be decisive, intelligent, and a great communicator. Above all, she must be honest.”
2. First and foremost
这个词组自带一种“开场”的感觉,通常用在开头,引出最基本、最核心的一点。它不仅强调重要性,还强调顺序上的“第一”。当你想要从一开始就奠定谈话的基础时,用它就对了。
- 用法示例:
- “First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who helped make this event a success.”
(首先,也是最重要的,我要感谢所有帮助这次活动取得成功的人。)
- “If you want to start a business, first and foremost, you need a solid plan.”
(如果你想创业,最首要的一点是,你需要一个可靠的计划。)
- “First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who helped make this event a success.”
第三梯队:更具体、更场景化的表达
英语的魅力在于,很多时候它不用“重要”这个词,也能表达出“重要”的意思。下面这些说法,就是在特定场景下,用来强调核心问题的。
1. The key is / The key thing is…
这个说法非常形象,把最重要的点比喻成“钥匙”。当你讨论一个问题的解决方案或者成功的关键因素时,用它特别贴切。
- 用法示例:
- “Learning vocabulary is useful, but the key is to actually use the words in conversation.”
(学词汇有用,但关键是真正在对话中用起来。)
- “Many people have great ideas. The key thing is execution.”
(很多人都有好点子,关键在于执行力。)
- “Learning vocabulary is useful, but the key is to actually use the words in conversation.”
2. The bottom line is…
这个说法源自商业会计里的“底线”,也就是最终的盈亏。现在引申为“最核心的、最根本的一点”,尤其是在经过一番讨论或争辩后,用来总结陈词,给出最终结论。语气非常直接,甚至有点不容置疑。
- 用法示例:
- “We’ve discussed the budget for hours. The bottom line is, we just don’t have enough money.”
(我们已经讨论了好几个小时的预算了。但最根本的问题是,我们就是钱不够。)
- “I know you’re not feeling motivated. But the bottom line is the project has to be finished by Friday.”
(我知道你没什么动力。但底线是,这个项目必须在周五前完成。)
- “We’ve discussed the budget for hours. The bottom line is, we just don’t have enough money.”
3. At the end of the day…
这个说法和 “The bottom line is” 有点像,但更偏向于表达一种“说到底”、“归根结底”的感觉。它通常用来剥离所有次要因素,直指最本质的结果或事实。
- 用法示例:
- “He might be difficult to work with, but at the end of the day, he always delivers great results.”
(他这个人可能很难共事,但说到底,他总能交出好成果。)
- “You can plan everything perfectly, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to luck sometimes.”
(你可以把一切都计划得很完美,但归根结底,有时候还是要看运气。)
- “He might be difficult to work with, but at the end of the day, he always delivers great results.”
4. What really matters is…
这个说法非常强调“真正要紧的是什么”。它带有一种价值判断,用来区分表面现象和内在本质。
- 用法示例:
- “It doesn’t matter if you start late. What really matters is that you start.”
(你什么时候开始并不重要,真正要紧的是你开始了。)
- “Don’t worry about the small mistakes. What really matters is the overall quality of the work.”
(别担心那些小错误,真正重要的是工作的整体质量。)
- “It doesn’t matter if you start late. What really matters is that you start.”
第四梯队:更口语、更“聊天”的说法
和朋友聊天或者在不那么正式的场合,你还可以用下面这些更接地气的表达。
1. Here’s the thing…
这个说法非常口语化,意思接近于“关键是这么回事……”或“我要说的是……”。它通常用在一个对话的转折点,引出你真正想表达的核心观点或遇到的难题。
- 用法示例:
- “I’d love to go on vacation with you. Here’s the thing, I have to work that week.”
(我很想和你去度假。但问题是,我那周得上班。)
- “Everyone thinks he’s lazy. Here’s the thing, he’s actually just very efficient and finishes his work in half the time.”
(大家都觉得他懒。但事实是,他只是效率高,用一半时间就把工作做完了。)
- “I’d love to go on vacation with you. Here’s the thing, I have to work that week.”
2. It all comes down to…
这个说法的意思是“一切都归结于……”,用来指出某个复杂情况最终的核心决定因素。
- 用法示例:
- “Why did the company fail? It all comes down to one thing: poor management.”
(公司为什么失败了?归根结底就一件事:管理不善。)
- “Choosing the right university all comes down to what you want to study.”
(选对大学,最终还是要看你想学什么专业。)
- “Why did the company fail? It all comes down to one thing: poor management.”
如何选择用哪个?
看了这么多,你可能会问,到底该用哪个?这里给你一个简单的决策指南:
- 写正式邮件或报告: 优先使用
Most importantly,Above all, 或者First and foremost。这些词显得专业、严谨。 - 做正式演讲或陈述:
First and foremost用来开场很棒。Most importantly和Above all用在中间部分,强调核心论点。The bottom line is用在结尾,给出强有力的结论。 - 日常工作讨论:
The key is...和What really matters is...非常实用,可以清晰地表达你对问题的看法。It all comes down to...可以在分析复杂问题时使用。 - 和朋友聊天:
The most important thing is...最常用。Here's the thing...和At the end of the day...能让你的对话听起来更自然、地道。
最后,说一个很多人会犯的错误:过度使用。不要在一封邮件或一段话里,翻来覆去地说 “most importantly”。这会让这个词失去强调的力量。学会交替使用上面提到的不同说法,根据语境选择最贴切的那一个,你的英语表达能力会立刻显得不一样。语言是活的,多观察母语者怎么用,然后大胆地去模仿和使用,这才是学好英语最重要的一点,对吧?

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