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    Chinese Grammar

    Referring to meaning with 意思 (yìsi)

    Topic & Focus

    Explanation

    意思 (yìsi) means "meaning" or "idea" and is used to ask about or explain the significance of words, actions, or situations. Common phrases include 什么意思 (what does it mean?) and 有意思 (interesting, literally "has meaning").

    Examples

    • 这句话是什么意思？我没听懂。

      zhè jù huà shì shénme yìsi? wǒ méi tīng dǒng.

      What does this sentence mean? I didn't understand it.

    • 你说这话到底是什么意思？

      nǐ shuō zhè huà dàodǐ shì shénme yìsi?

      What exactly do you mean by saying that?

    • 这个词有好几个不同的意思。

      zhège cí yǒu hǎo jǐ gè bùtóng de yìsi.

      This word has several different meanings.

    Referring to meaning with 意思 (yìsi) | Chinese Grammar