以…为主: mainly

以 A 为主 means “mostly A, A is the main thing”: 来的人以学生为主, “most of those who came were students”. It is bookish; in speech 主要是… is more common. 以 opens what is main and 为主 closes the phrase: not 以为主学生.

Examples

• 我们以米饭为主。 Wǒmen yǐ mǐfàn wéizhǔ. We mostly eat rice.
• 来的人以学生为主。 Lái de rén yǐ xuésheng wéizhǔ. Most of the people who came were students.
• 这家商店以面条为主。 Zhè jiā shāngdiàn yǐ miàntiáo wéizhǔ. This shop mostly sells noodles.

← All lessons Next lesson: 令人 + feeling: the written 'makes you feel' →