意 yì

Inner sound (音) of the heart (心): thought or intention.

Meaning, idea, intention, wish, or expectation. Sound (音) above heart (心): the heart's voiced message.

Common Usage & Traps

  • 意思 (yìsi) — meaning; idea
  • 有意思 (yǒu yìsi) — interesting
  • 愿意 (yuànyì) — willing; to be willing
  • 注意 (zhùyì) — to pay attention; attention
  • 同意 (tóngyì) — to agree
  • 有意思的人 有趣的人

    有意思 usually describes things or situations, not people. For a person who is interesting, use 有趣的人.

  • 我意 我的意思

    意 cannot stand alone as a noun; it needs a partner word. Say 我的意思 for 'my meaning' or 'what I mean'.

What is the difference between 意 and 义?

意 is about inner intention or meaning; 义 is about righteousness or justice.

Both are pronounced yì and look similar, but their cores differ. 意 points to what is in the heart and mind, such as 意思 (meaning) or 愿意 (willing). 义 points to moral rightness, as in 意义 (significance) or 正义 (justice). If you can replace it with 'meaning' or 'intention', use 意. If you can replace it with 'righteous' or 'justice', use 义.
Dimension意义
Core meaninginner intention, meaningrighteousness, justice
Common words意思, 愿意, 注意意义, 正义, 义务
Memory hookvoice in the heartmoral rightness

Can 意 be used alone as a word?

No, 意 cannot stand alone as a complete word and must combine with other characters.

In modern Mandarin, 意 does not stand alone as a noun or verb. It always appears in compounds like 意思, 愿意, 注意, or 同意. If you want to say 'meaning' by itself, use 意思.
DimensionNaturalAvoid
Meaning意思意
Willingness愿意意
Attention注意意

Appears in Stories 6 stories

《大学者和小人物》 The Scholar and the Cookie Seller
HSK 5 ~8 min read 882 chars
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Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.

  • 在他的晚年,有一位卖饼干的小人物成了他的朋友,给他带来一点 意外 和许多快乐。

  • 他比较支持美国,但理论上说不明白,一直得不到 满意的 解释。

  • 信中说:“你提出的问题太大,我不能给你一个可以使我自己认为 满意的 解释。

  • ““我还可以说,我们这个地方,有一个卖饼干的,每天在街上叫卖饼干,但他还 愿意 关心国家大事,关心英美的政治制度,希望国家能走上正确的道路──只这件奇事,已够使我乐观,使我高兴了。

  • 如有我可以帮你小忙的事,如找你自己找不着的书之类,我一定很 愿意 做,”从此,元真便成了博士胡之适的“我的朋友”了。

《成语0001:东山再起》 The Comeback: From Eastern Mountain to Success
HSK 7 ~5 min read 589 chars
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Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.

  • “东山再起”这个成语的 本意 是一个人失败以后或从高的地位落到低的地位以后,重新回到成功的位置。

  • 这个成语人人都会用,但是“东山”是什么 意思 ,好多人不知道。

  • 朋友跟他开玩笑说:“你以前一直待在东山,现在终于 愿意 出来重新开始了。”

《慢还是快?》 Slow or Fast? A Language Learner's Debate
HSK 2 ~8 min read 593 chars
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Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.

  • 大家能听懂你的 意思 就可以了。

  • 你知道,学习汉语很 有意思 ,但是那个时候,我们班有三十个同学。

  • 人太多,我很少真的说汉语,所以这个“汉语课”很 没意思 。

《你喜欢看老电影吗?》 Do You Like Old Movies?
HSK 2 ~3 min read 224 chars
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In this dialogue, two people chat while waiting outside a cinema. You'll hear common phrases for talking about hobbies, sports, and movie preferences.

  • 有的时候,老电影比现在的新电影 有意思 。

《你好和再见》 Hello and Goodbye
HSK 1 ~1 min read 46 chars
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Before you start learning Chinese, master the most important phrases: greetings. This short dialogue shows you how to say hello and goodbye, and how to respond politely.

  • 不好意思 ,也可以。

《你误会方便面了吗?》 Are Instant Noodles Misunderstood?
HSK 6 ~10 min read 1171 chars
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Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.

  • 这个数字是什么 意思 ?

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