cốt nhất
Definition
- Adverb:
- Principally; mainly; above all: Used to indicate the most important element, reason, or consideration in a matter. It emphasizes the primary or fundamental aspect.
- Essentially; in essence: Used to describe the core, indispensable nature of something.
Usage Examples
- Adverb:
- Kế hoạch này cốt nhất là phải tiết kiệm chi phí. (This plan is principally about saving costs.)
- Khi chọn trường, gia đình tôi cốt nhất quan tâm đến chất lượng giảng dạy. (When choosing a school, my family cares above all about the quality of teaching.)
- Món ăn này cốt nhất là ở nước sốt. (This dish is essentially about the sauce.)
Advanced Usage
- Often used in formal or analytical writing to structure an argument by highlighting the primary point.
- Can be used to introduce the most critical condition or requirement in an explanation.
Variants and Related Words
- Chủ yếu (adv): Mainly, primarily. A more common synonym with a very similar meaning.
- Căn bản (adj/adv): Fundamental, basically. Refers to a foundational aspect.
- Trên hết (adv): Above all. Emphasizes something as being of the highest priority.
Synonyms
- Primarily: For the most part; chiefly.
- Mainly: More than anything else.
- Essentially: Used to emphasize the basic, fundamental point.
- Above all: Most importantly.
Related Idioms
- Lấy đó làm cốt: To take that as the core/principal element. This phrase shares the root word "cốt" (core, essence).
- Chúng ta nên lấy sự chân thành làm cốt. (We should take sincerity as the core principle.)