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    Chinese Grammar

    Referring to 'meaning' or 'intention' with 意 (yì)

    Topic & Focus

    Structure

    意 + Noun/Context

    Explanation

    The character 意 (yì) means "meaning," "intention," or "thought" and is a versatile word in Chinese. It appears in many common compounds such as 意思 (meaning), 注意 (to pay attention), and 意见 (opinion). In classical poetry, it often refers to inner feelings or concerns.

    Examples

    • 你说的话是什么意思？我没听明白。

      nǐ shuō de huà shì shénme yìsi? wǒ méi tīng míngbái.

      What do you mean by what you said? I didn't understand.

    • 他的好意我心领了，但这件事我想自己处理。

      tā de hǎoyì wǒ xīnlǐngle, dàn zhè jiàn shì wǒ xiǎng zìjǐ chǔlǐ.

      I appreciate his good intentions, but I want to handle this matter myself.

    • 这首诗的深层含意需要慢慢体会。

      zhè shǒu shī de shēncéng hányì xūyào mànmàn tǐhuì.

      The deeper meaning of this poem needs to be slowly savored.

    Referring to 'meaning' or 'intention' with 意 (yì) | Chinese Grammar