When something is overarching, it does not sit in one corner of a plan, a story, or a life. It stretches over the whole thing, like a wide arch over a path, and it touches or shapes every part.

When something is overarching當一件事是overarching的時候, it does not sit in one corner of a plan, a story, or a life它不會只待在計畫、故事,或人生的某一個角落. It它 stretches over the whole thing會覆蓋整個東西, like a wide arch over a path就像一座寬闊的拱門橫跨在一條路上, and it touches or shapes every part並且觸及或影響每一個部分

An overarching goal is the one big aim that all the smaller jobs are meant to serve. An overarching theme in a book is the idea that keeps coming back in every chapter, not a detail that appears once.

An overarching goal總體目標 is the one big aim that all the smaller jobs are meant to serve是那個所有小任務最終都要服務的大目標. An overarching theme in a book書裡的overarching theme(總體主題) is the idea that keeps coming back in every chapter是那個在每一章都會反覆出現的想法, not a detail that appears once不是只出現一次的小細節

You will hear this word in school, in the news, and at work. It sounds a little formal, a little like an essay, but people do say it out loud.

You will hear this word你會聽到這個字 in school, in the news, and at work在學校、新聞,還有工作場合. It它 sounds a little formal, a little like an essay聽起來有點正式,有點像作文, but people do say it out loud但人們確實會把它說出口

Though actually, speakers often reach for it when they only mean “main” or “overall”. That is close, but the extra picture is coverage: not just the biggest piece, but the one that includes or steers all the others.

Though actually不過, speakers often reach for it人們常常就用了這個字 when they only mean "main" or "overall"在只想表達「主要的」或「整體的」時. That is close這個意思算接近, but the extra picture is coverage但多出來的畫面是「涵蓋」: not just the biggest piece不只是最大的那一塊, but the one that includes or steers all the others而是那個包含或引導其他所有東西的那一塊

We almost never use it now for a real arch in the sky; it lives in ideas, rules, and stories.

We almost never use it now for a real arch in the sky現在我們幾乎不會用它來講天上真正的拱門; it lives in ideas, rules, and stories它活在想法、規則,和故事裡