A precondition is something that must already be true, or must already have happened, before the next thing can start. Think of a locked door: having the key is a precondition for going in. Countries set preconditions for peace talks; a school may set preconditions for joining a club.

A precondition is somethingprecondition是指一件事情 that must already be true, or must already have happened必須先為真、或必須先發生, before the next thing can start下一件事才能開始。Think of a locked door想像一扇上鎖的門: having the key is a precondition for going in擁有鑰匙就是進門的precondition。Countries set preconditions for peace talks國家會為和談設下preconditions; a school may set preconditions for joining a club學校也可能為加入社團設下preconditions。

Though actually, people also use it as a verb, especially in technical English: to precondition a room is to get the air ready before people arrive; to precondition a battery is to warm or cool it so it works well. That verb is about preparing something in advance, not about a rule.

Though actually, people also use it as a verb不過實際上，這個字也可以當動詞用, especially in technical English尤其是在技術性的英文裡: to precondition a room is to get the air ready before people arriveto precondition a room是指在人們到達前先把空氣準備好; to precondition a battery is to warm or cool it so it works wellto precondition a battery是指先把電池加熱或冷卻，讓它運作良好。That verb is about preparing something in advance這個動詞講的是事先準備好某樣東西, not about a rule而不是關於一個規則。

The noun is the one you will meet in news and essays. It sits near requirement and prerequisite. Precondition often sounds a little more official, as if the talks or the deal cannot even begin until this piece is in place.

The noun is the one you will meet in news and essays名詞用法才是你會在新聞和文章裡遇到的那個。It sits near requirement and prerequisite它跟requirement和prerequisite意思相近。Precondition often sounds a little more officialPrecondition聽起來常常更正式一點, as if the talks or the deal cannot even begin until this piece is in place好像談判或協議在這件事到位之前根本無法開始。