yi (意) — meaning, intention, the wish of the mind in Chinese

simplified

traditional

yì

meaning · intention · wish · idea · notion

HSK 2 笔画 13 部首心 (heart) 声调第四声 (falling) all yi readings →

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笔顺 bǐshùn · Stroke order

部首 radical (心) 部件 component (rest of character) 书写 your drawing

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字源 zìyuán Etymology & Structure

字源洞见 zìyuán dòngjiàn · Etymological Insight

意 yì = 音 (yīn, sound) over 心 (xīn, heart). The Unihan decomposition reads 意 = ⿱ 音心: the upper element is 音, a sound or voice, and the lower element is 心, the heart-mind. Read it as the sound of the heart, what the mind utters or holds before it is fully spoken. The traditional and simplified forms are identical, so the same glyph stands in both script columns.

From the sound of the heart branch three senses that anchor a large family of everyday words:

1. Meaning, significance. What a thing means or signifies: 意思 yìsi (meaning), 意义 yìyì (significance), 含意 hányì (implied sense).
2. Intention, wish, idea. What the heart wants or proposes: 愿意 yuànyì (be willing), 同意 tóngyì (agree), 主意 zhǔyi (an idea), 故意 gùyì (deliberately).
3. Feeling, notion, the mind turned outward. The heart noticing or responding: 注意 zhùyì (pay attention), 满意 mǎnyì (satisfied), 意外 yìwài (unexpected).

The thread through every sense is the mind reaching past itself. Whether 意 names what words signify, what a person intends, or what the attention settles on, it is the heart pressing outward into the world: meant, willed, or noticed.

构词 gòucí Word-Formation Patterns

构词规律 gòucí guīlǜ · The Sound of the Heart 意 as meaning / significance → 意思 meaning · 意义 significance · 含意 implied sense · 词意 word-sense
意 as intention / wish → 愿意 be willing · 同意 agree · 主意 an idea · 故意 deliberately
意 as feeling / notion → 注意 pay attention · 满意 satisfied · 意外 unexpected · 意见 opinion

意思 yìsi Meaning & Significance

意思 yìsi meaning; sense; a small token of feeling

N 名词 míngcí

意 yì (meaning) + 思 si (thought). The everyday word for what something means: 这个词是什么意思 "what does this word mean." It also softens into "a little gesture of feeling," as when a small gift is 一点意思, just a token.

这个字是什么意思？

Zhège zì shì shénme yìsi?

What does this character mean?

这是我的一点小意思。

Zhè shì wǒ de yìdiǎn xiǎo yìsi.

This is just a small token of my regard.

意义 yìyì significance; meaning (of importance or value)

N 名词 míngcí

意 yì (meaning) + 义 yì (significance; principle). The deeper meaning that gives something worth or purpose: 人生的意义 "the meaning of life," 有意义的工作 "meaningful work."

这件事很有意义。

Zhè jiàn shì hěn yǒu yìyì.

This matter is very meaningful.

辨析 biànxī · 意思 vs. 意义意思 is the plain sense of a word or sentence, what it conveys: ask 什么意思 when you do not understand. 意义 is significance or worth, the value something carries: a gesture, a sacrifice, or a life can have 意义. You look up 意思 in a dictionary, but you weigh 意义 in the heart.

意见 yìjiàn opinion; view; objection

N 名词 míngcí

意 yì (notion) + 见 jiàn (to see; view). What the mind sees on a matter, that is, a considered opinion: 提意见 "to offer a view." It can lean negative, where 有意见 means to have a complaint or grievance.

大家对这个计划有什么意见？

Dàjiā duì zhège jìhuà yǒu shénme yìjiàn?

What are everyone's views on this plan?

愿意 yuànyì Intention & Willingness

语义洞见 yǔyì dòngjiàn · Semantic Insight

The second great field of 意 is the will: what the heart wants and chooses. Here 意 names intention rather than meaning. 愿意 yuànyì pairs 意 with 愿 (yuàn, to wish) for "to be willing," the readiness of the heart to act. 同意 tóngyì sets 意 under 同 (tóng, same) for "to agree," that is, to share the same intent. And 故意 gùyì, "on purpose," marks an act done with the heart fully behind it, as opposed to 无意 wúyì, by accident.

Notice how the same root flips between noun and verb-complement. As a bare noun, 主意 zhǔyi is "an idea," the proposal the mind forms. Inside 愿意 and 同意 it works as a verbal element, the leaning of the will toward a course of action. The constant is the heart settling on something it means to do.

愿意 yuànyì to be willing; to want to

V 动词 dòngcí

愿 yuàn (to wish) + 意 yì (intent). The willingness of the heart to do something: 我愿意帮你 "I'm willing to help you." It expresses consent and readiness, not mere ability.

你愿意跟我一起去吗？

Nǐ yuànyì gēn wǒ yìqǐ qù ma?

Are you willing to go together with me?

同意 tóngyì to agree; to consent; to approve

V 动词 dòngcí

同 tóng (same) + 意 yì (intent). To hold the same intent, hence to agree or consent: 我同意你的看法 "I agree with your view." Its opposite is 反对 fǎnduì, to oppose.

老师同意了我们的请求。

Lǎoshī tóngyì le wǒmen de qǐngqiú.

The teacher agreed to our request.

故意 gùyì on purpose; deliberately; intentionally

ADV 副词 fùcí

故 gù (cause; reason) + 意 yì (intent). With the heart deliberately behind the act: 他故意迟到 "he was late on purpose." Its opposite is 无意 wúyì or 不小心 bù xiǎoxīn, by accident.

对不起，我不是故意的。

Duìbuqǐ, wǒ bù shì gùyì de.

Sorry, I did not do it on purpose.

注意 zhùyì Attention & Satisfaction

注意 zhùyì to pay attention; to take note; to watch out

V 动词 dòngcí

注 zhù (to pour; to fix) + 意 yì (notion; attention). To pour the mind onto something, that is, to pay attention: 注意安全 "mind your safety," 请注意 "please take note."

过马路要注意车。

Guò mǎlù yào zhùyì chē.

Watch out for cars when crossing the street.

满意 mǎnyì satisfied; pleased; content

ADJ 形容词 xíngróngcí

满 mǎn (full) + 意 yì (heart; wish). The heart filled to its wish, hence satisfied: 对结果很满意 "very pleased with the result." Its opposite is 不满 bùmǎn, dissatisfied.

老板对他的工作很满意。

Lǎobǎn duì tā de gōngzuò hěn mǎnyì.

The boss is very satisfied with his work.

意外 yìwài unexpected; an accident; a mishap

ADJ 形容词 xíngróngcí

意 yì (notion; expectation) + 外 wài (outside). Outside what the heart anticipated, hence unexpected: 意外的消息 "surprising news." As a noun it names an accident or mishap that fell beyond anyone's reckoning.

这个结果让我感到很意外。

Zhège jiéguǒ ràng wǒ gǎndào hěn yìwài.

This result took me quite by surprise.

成语 chéngyǔ Idioms & Set Phrases

全心全意 quán xīn quán yì with whole heart and whole mind: wholeheartedly, with total devotion Lit: whole-heart-whole-intent. The 心 (heart) and 意 (intent) doubled to mean nothing held back: 全心全意为人民服务 "to serve the people wholeheartedly." The strongest everyday way to say one is fully committed.

心满意足 xīn mǎn yì zú heart full and wishes fulfilled: perfectly content and satisfied Lit: heart-full-intent-satisfied. Pairs 心 and 意 again, both filled to the brim. Said of someone wanting for nothing, the calm fullness of having one's desires met.

出乎意料 chū hū yì liào to come out beyond expectation: contrary to what anyone anticipated Lit: come-out-of-reckoning. 意料 is what the mind reckons in advance; to fall 出乎意料 is to land outside it. Its mirror is 不出所料, "just as expected."

三心二意 sān xīn èr yì three hearts and two minds: half-hearted, unable to commit Lit: three-hearts-two-intents. A scattered, divided will that cannot settle on one course. The standing opposite of 全心全意, said of someone wavering or only half committed.

记忆法 jìyìfǎ · Master Retention Image

Stack the character the way it is built: 音 sound resting on 心 heart. Picture a sound rising up out of the heart, the unspoken note the mind holds before it reaches the tongue. That note is 意, what you mean.

Then follow it three ways. Aim the sound at a word and it becomes meaning (意思, 意义). Aim it at a deed and it becomes intention, the heart willing to act (愿意, 同意, 故意). Aim it outward at the world and it becomes attention and feeling, the mind noticing and being filled (注意, 满意, 意外). Hear the sound of the heart, and every 意 word follows from it.