意思

• Pinyin: yì si
• Hanzi breakdown: 意 = 音 (sound) + 心 (heart), meaning 'intention'; 思 = 田 (field) + 心 (heart), meaning 'to think'

Meaning

Meaning; idea; intent. What a word, sentence, or action signifies.

One of the most versatile words in Chinese. Core meaning is 'meaning' — 这个词是什么意思？(What does this word mean?). Also used in many expressions: 有意思 (interesting), 没意思 (boring), 不好意思 (embarrassed/sorry), 小意思 (no big deal).

Examples

1. 这个字是什么意思？ What does this character mean?
2. 我不明白你的意思。 I don't understand what you mean.
3. 他的意思是让我们早点来。 What he means is that we should come earlier.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, learning, conversation

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这句话是什么意思？(What does this sentence mean?)
• 不好意思，我迟到了。(Sorry, I'm late.)

Don't Say

• 这本书的意思很厚。(Don't describe 意思 with physical adjectives — 意思 is abstract. Say 这本书很厚 or 这本书的内容很丰富.)

Origin & History

Compound of 意 (intention/thought) and 思 (to think), literally 'what one thinks' — the idea or meaning behind something.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal