本意

• Pinyin: běn yì
• Hanzi breakdown: 本 = 木 (tree) + 一 (root marker); 意 = 音 (sound) + 心 (heart)

Meaning

Original intention; true meaning; actual purpose. What someone really meant.

Refers to someone's genuine intention or the original meaning of words, as opposed to how they might be interpreted. Often used to clarify misunderstandings or explain that an outcome wasn't what was intended.

Examples

1. 我的本意是想帮你，没想到反而添了麻烦。 My intention was to help you — I didn't expect to cause trouble instead.
2. 这个词的本意和现在的用法已经完全不同了。 The original meaning of this word is completely different from how it's used now.
3. 他的本意是好的，只是表达方式让人误会了。 His intentions were good; it's just that his way of expressing them caused misunderstanding.

Usage Guide

Context: clarification, apology, linguistics

Tone: explanatory

Do Say

• 我的本意不是这样。(That wasn't my intention.)
• 这个成语的本意是什么？(What's the original meaning of this idiom?)

Don't Say

• 把事后辩解说成'本意' (Don't use 本意 as a convenient excuse after the fact — it should reflect genuine original intent)

Origin & History

本 (original/fundamental) + 意 (meaning/intention). The original meaning or intention.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal