意思
yìsi
In Chinese, the word for 'meaning' is 意思 (yìsi). Wiktionary also lists 意味 (yìwèi).
Meaning: definition or connotation of a word (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 意思 | yìsi |
| 意味 | yìwèi |
意思 refers to the definition or connotation of a word. In informal settings, it is a versatile term that can mean 'meaning,' 'idea,' or 'regards'.
Which one should you use?
意思 is the most common, everyday way to say 'meaning' in spoken Chinese. In contrast, 意味 is more formal and often refers to a deeper, more subtle or implied meaning (connotation) rather than a simple definition.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 有意思 (literally 'has meaning') is a very common way to say that something is 'interesting' or 'fun', while 没意思 (literally 'no meaning') is the standard way to say that something is 'boring' or 'uninteresting'.
How do you pronounce it?
yìsi
When do people say it?
To ask 'What do you mean?' in Chinese, you can say 你是什么意思？
Did you know?
- In certain contexts, 意思 can mean 'to flirt' or 'to show romantic interest'. Saying someone has 意思 toward another person suggests a hidden emotional motive.
- In certain social situations, saying you 'have some '意思' (yìsi)' can be a polite, indirect way to suggest you have a small gift or a bribe to offer.
- The word 意思 consists of 意 meaning 'thought' and 思 meaning 'to think'. This makes the word for 'meaning' a compound of two different ways of conceptualizing thinking.
Examples in context
- 千万别误会我的意思。Please don't mistake my meaning.This sentence shows how to use 意思 when asking someone not to misunderstand your intent.Tatoeba #4282947 by notabene, translation #4334419 by Blair0113
- 他解释了句子的字面意思。He explained the literal meaning of the sentences.This sentence uses 意思 to refer to the literal meaning of a sentence.Tatoeba #7772575 by jiangche, translation #305848 by CK
- 你能否說出這個詞的精確意思?Can you explain the exact meaning of this word?This sentence uses 意思 to ask for the precise meaning of a word.Tatoeba #2166017 by sadhen, translation #2169272 by CM
- 这个故事有深刻的意义。This story has profound meaning.
- 你了解这幅画的含义吗？Do you understand the meaning behind this painting?
- 他那句话的意思是什么？What is the meaning behind his words?
- 30 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Haoran and Yuting are studying Chinese together.
- 浩然 Haoran这个词是什么意思？Zhège cí shì shénme yìsi?What is the meaning of this word?
- 雨婷 Yuting它的意思很深奥。Tā de yìsi hěn shēn'ào.Its meaning is very profound.
- 浩然 Haoran你能解释一下吗？Nǐ néng jiěshì yīxià ma?Can you explain it a bit?
- 雨婷 Yuting没问题，我来帮你。Méi wèntí, wǒ lái bāng nǐ.No problem, I will help you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “meaning” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
