The partitioning behavior of trace elements is of key importance for understanding the geochemical process and material cycle mechanism in subduction zones.This paper focuses on the advances and prospects on the studies of trace element partitioning in subduction zones from the following four aspects.(1)The properties of fluids derived from subducting slabs and their ability in element transport.How slab-derived solute-rich fluids and supercritical fluids are formed and what the roles and key control factors of these fluids are in transferring of elements(especially the high field strength elements)from slab to wedge are discussed.We point out that the detailed investigations of supercritical fluids may provide a new perspective for the element migration mechanism,material cycle process,arc magma genesis and so on.(2)The behavior of transition elements during mantle wedge melting.The behavior of the first row transition elements(Sc,Ti,V,Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Ni,Cu,Zn)in the mantle partial melting process is compatible or incompatible,depending on residual mineral assemblage and physicochemical condi-tions.The partitioning behavior of the elements such as Sc,Ti,Co,Ni and Zn whose valence states do not change in the melting process mainly depends on the residual mineral assemblage and temperature,whereas the partitioning behavior of the multi-valent elements such as V and Fe is also the function of oxygen fugacity(1O2)in addition to mineral assemblage and temperature.Therefore,the partitioning behavior of transition elements has important applications in tracing lithologic inhomogeneity andfO2 of the mantle wedges.(3)The specificity of element partitioning behavior during arc magma evolution.Garnet has Dy/Yb partitioning behavior different from amphibole,and rutile has Nb/Ta partitioning behavior different from amphibole.Dy/Yb and Nb/Ta partitioning differences for these minerals enable to distinguish the specific evolution process of arc magmas.The Dy/Yb and Nb/Ta generally decrease with the increase of SiO2 in arc magmas,indicating that amphibole fractionation should be the most important during arc magma differentiation.(4)The behavior of sulfur and chalcophile elements and porphyry metallogeny.In subduction zones,the behavior of chalcophile elements such as Cu and Au is controlled by sulfide and fluid.Therefore,the stability of sulfide,the time at which the fluid exsolves from the melt relative to sulfide saturation,the fluid/sulfide mass ratio and fluid/melt Cu and Au partition coefficients in intermediate-felsic magma-H2O systems are especially important in understanding Cu and Au enrichment in magma-hydrothermal processes.Intermediate-felsic magmas mainly originate from the differentiation of arc magmas at lower crustal reservoirs,and thus the fluid exsolution from the lower crustal reservoirs and the fluid/melt and fluid/sulfide partition coefficients of Cu and Au should be the keys to understanding quantitatively how Cu and Au are migrated from the deep crust to the shallow site of mineralization.