major

Compared meaning: important or significant (adjective).

比较义项：主要的、重要的（形容词）。

• major 本词

  Describes something as significant or important among several factors, without ranking it as the very top one; used broadly with problems, decisions, roles, injuries, or cities.

  表示某事物在多个因素中占重要地位，但不强调它是最顶尖的一个；常与问题、决定、角色、伤情、城市等搭配。

  Traffic congestion is a major problem in this city.

  交通拥堵是这座城市的一个主要问题。

• leading

  Describes someone or something as foremost or top-ranked within a field, implying direct comparison with rivals; common with roles like leading actor, leading expert, leading company.

  表示某人或某事物在某个领域中处于最前列、领先于同行，隐含与竞争者的直接比较；常与“领衔演员”“领先专家”“领先公司”等搭配。

  She is the leading expert in cancer research.

  她是癌症研究领域的顶尖专家。

Major and leading both mean important, but they focus differently. Major describes something as significant among several factors, without ranking it the very top; used with problems, roles, or cities. Leading describes someone or something as first or best in a field, compared with rivals.

这两个词在“主要的”这个意义上容易混淆，但强调点不同：major 强调该事物在众多因素中占有重要地位，而 leading 强调在某个领域或排名中处于最前列、领先于其他同类。此处不比较 major 作名词表示“主修专业”或“少校”的用法。