ich meine
In German, "I mean" can be translated as ich meine.
The phrase is used to correct an error or to express an opinion or a belief, similar to how one might say "I think" or "I believe" in English.
Meaning: used to correct an error (particle)
Which one should you use?
While ich meine can be used to correct a mistake, it is also frequently used to express an opinion.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ich meine comes from the regular verb meinen, which means "to mean" or "to think". In the first person singular present tense, it becomes ich meine.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use ich meine as a filler particle (for example, saying "I mean, it's fine"). Doing so sounds unnatural in German. Use it only when you are actually correcting a statement or expressing a specific thought.
Did you know?
- In highly formal German, ich meine is often replaced by ich bin der Ansicht, which literally translates to 'I am of the view'.
- If a German speaker wants to say 'I mean it' in the sense of being serious, they use the phrase ich meine es ernst, which switches the meaning from correction to sincerity.
- If you want to use a filler particle similar to the English 'I mean' to bridge thoughts, Germans are more likely to use äh or halt instead of a verb like meinen.
Examples in context
- Ich meine es so!I mean it!Tatoeba #657092 by samueldora, translation #322125 by jakov
- Ich meine es ernst.I mean it.Tatoeba #1768662 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #250804 by CK
- Weißt du, was ich meine?Do you know what I mean?Tatoeba #641105 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #321488 by CK
- 45 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Hannah are discussing a movie they recently saw.
- HannahDer Film war nicht gut.The movie was not good.
- FelixIch meine, er war okay.I mean, it was okay.
- HannahEcht? Ich fand ihn langweilig.Really? I found it boring.
- FelixVielleicht hast du recht.Maybe you are right.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
