示意

• Pinyin: shì yì
• Hanzi breakdown: 示 = 二 + 小 (show, point to, manifest); 意 = 音 + 心 (meaning, intention, will, thought)

Meaning

To signal; to gesture; to indicate without words. Communicating an intention or direction through a look, movement, or gesture rather than speech.

Implies non-verbal or implicit communication: a nod, a glance, a hand gesture, or a drawing. Common collocations: 用眼神示意 (signal with one's eyes), 向…示意 (signal to…), 打手势示意 (indicate by hand gesture), 示意图 (schematic diagram, explanatory illustration). 示意图 is a very common compound used in engineering, architecture, and teaching materials to denote a diagram that illustrates a concept without being technically precise.

Examples

1. 经理用眼神示意秘书离开会议室，随即压低声音与对方展开了一场不希望被外人听到的私密谈话。 The manager signaled to the secretary with a look to leave the conference room, then lowered his voice and began a private conversation he didn’t want outsiders to hear.
2. 老师在讲解这道数学题时，向学生示意黑板右侧的辅助图形，帮助他们直观理解抽象的几何关系。 While explaining the math problem, the teacher gestured to the auxiliary diagram on the right side of the blackboard to help students intuitively grasp the abstract geometric relationships.
3. 他在台上演讲时突然停顿下来，向台下的助手示意，请对方将准备好的幻灯片切换到下一张。 He suddenly paused during his speech on stage and signaled to his assistant, asking them to switch the prepared slides to the next one.

Usage Guide

Context: communication, social interaction, teaching, conferences, non-verbal cues

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 谈判过程中，首席代表频繁向坐在身旁的法律顾问示意，双方之间通过细微的肢体语言传递着外人难以察觉的信息与判断。(During the negotiations, the chief representative frequently signalled to the legal adviser seated beside them, with subtle body language conveying information and judgements between the two that were imperceptible to outsiders.)
• 指挥用指挥棒向第二小提琴声部示意，提示他们在下一个乐段适当降低音量，以便将旋律主线清晰地衬托给木管组。(The conductor signalled with the baton to the second violin section, indicating that they should reduce their volume slightly in the next passage so as to clearly set off the melodic main line for the woodwind section.)

Don't Say

• 示意 as a synonym for 表示 (to express/indicate) in contexts involving verbal communication or written statements — 示意 is specifically non-verbal or implicit; for expressing something in words or writing, use 表示, 说明, or 表达 instead

Origin & History

示 (show, indicate, manifest) + 意 (meaning, intention, thought)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal