意思
Definitions
- 1. idea
- 2. opinion
- 3. meaning
- 4. wish
- 5. desire
- 6. interest
- 7. fun
- 8. token of appreciation, affection etc
- 9. to give as a small token
- 10. to do sth as a gesture of goodwill etc
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Word relationships
Register variants
1 itemRelated words
1 itemSynonyms
1 itemUsage notes
Collocations
有意思 means 'interesting' or 'meaningful'; 没意思 means 'boring' or 'pointless'.
Common mistakes
Don't confuse 意思 (yìsi) with 意见 (yìjiàn): 意思 refers to meaning or intent; 意见 refers to opinion or objection.
Grammar
Guides that feature 意思
Jump into a full guide with fill-in-the-blank drills. Clicking will load the page and move you to the top.
Say something is about to happen with 要……了, 快要……了 or 就要……了, and contrast it with 已经……了 for what has already happened.
Use 此外 and 另外 to add one more point, and use 另外 on its own to mean “another” or “separately”.
Show how sure you are with 好像, 大概 and 一定, say what must happen with 必须, and say “almost” with 差不多 and 几乎.
Describe someone or something arriving or leaving a place, as in 家里来了一位客人 and 我们班走了两个同学.
Put two words for the same person or thing side by side, as in 我们两个, 我自己 and 北京这个城市, to make one phrase.
Give rough numbers and times with 大约 before the number, 左右 after it, and 前后 after a point in time, as in 春节前后.
Use A来A去, as in 想来想去 and 跑来跑去, to describe an action repeated back and forth, often before saying how it turned out.
Use A着A着, as in 走着走着 and 说着说着, to say that something unexpected happened while an action was going on.
Say what something is based on: 凭 for “relying on” what you have, 据 for “according to” a source, and 依据 for “on the basis of” rules and facts.
Count in ten-thousands with 万, say “lots of” with 好多, and say “twenty-something” or “over an hour” with 多.
Ask, suggest and tell people not to do things with 请, 吧, 不要 and 别, and choose correctly between 不, 没 and 没有.
Say “A isn’t as good as B” with 不如 and “compared with…” with 跟……相比, as in 我的汉语不如他好.
Link ideas like a fluent writer: draw a conclusion with 可见, sum up with 总之, imagine with 假如, and state a result with 从而.
Say how many times you did something with verb + number + 次, and put the object in the right place.
Say and ask dates the Chinese way, from big to small: year 年, month 月, day 号 or 日, then weekday 星期.
Say “very” with 十分, “even more” with 更加, “slightly” with 稍 and 稍微, “especially” with 尤其, and make exclamations with 多么.
Say “the most” with 最, “how beautiful!” with 多漂亮啊, and a chatty “so cold!” with 好冷啊.
Say how strong a quality is, from 有些 and 比较 to 挺, 特别 and 极, and compare with 更, 还 and 越来越.
Choose between casual 特 “really”, formal 异常 “extremely, unusually” and formal 较为 “fairly” to set both the degree and the tone.
Say “too”, “quite”, “extremely”, “especially” and “really” with the right register using 过于, 相当, 极其, 格外, 较 and spoken 可…了.
Say “really” and “extremely” after an adjective with 得很, 极了 and 坏了: 好得很, 高兴极了, 累坏了.
Add 来 or 去 after a verb to show movement toward or away from you, and 上, 下, 进, 出, 过 or 回 to show which way something moves.
Say where things are, like “on the table” or “in my bag”, by putting 上, 下, 里, 外, 前 or 后 after the noun.
Use 为了 + goal + 而 + action to say what someone does for a purpose, as in 他为了考上大学而努力学习.
Double an adjective as AA (大大, 慢慢) or AABB (高高兴兴) to paint a vivid picture, and attach it with 的, 地 or 得.
Double a measure word, as in 个个 or 张张, to say “every single one” with no exceptions.
Double a verb (看看, 想一想, 休息休息) to make an action sound quick and relaxed, and use 看了看 for a quick action that already happened.
Use two negatives to make a strong positive, like 不能不去 “have to go” and 没有人不知道 “everyone knows”.
Say who gets what with verbs like 给, 问, 教, 送 and 告诉: verb + person + thing, as in 老师给我一本书.
Use 一 + measure word + 比 + 一 + measure word to say something keeps getting more so, or that each one in a group outdoes the last.
Show strong feelings with 太好了！, 真好吃！ and 多漂亮啊！, and know when 太……了 means “too” rather than “so”.
Use 于 for a formal time or place, 至于 to turn to a related point, and 因 to give a reason in written Chinese.
Use 彼此 for “each other”, 如此 for “like this, so” and 本 for “this (our own)” in more formal Chinese, and know their everyday equivalents.
Use 一A一B phrases like 一模一样 and 一前一后 to say “completely, every bit” or to describe two people or things as a pair.
Use 无A无B phrases like 无忧无虑 and 无缘无故 to say something has no A and no B at all.
Use 有A有B to say two things are both there, as in 有说有笑, or that a group is mixed, as in 有大有小.
Use 一再 and 再三 to say something was done or happened again and again, and know why only 再三 can follow a verb.
Describe what usually happens in a given situation with 往往, say “once in a while” with 偶尔, and know when 常常 is the right choice instead.
Use 从 to say where a movement starts or which way it goes through, and 往 to say which direction someone is heading.
Use 将 as the formal “will” in notices and news, and 将要…了 for something that is about to happen.
Use 拿……来说 to pick one example and use it to back up a general point.
Use 在……看来 to introduce an opinion as someone’s point of view: 在我看来, 在老师看来.
Use 来得及 to say there is still time to do something, and 来不及 to say it is too late.
Use X是X，Y是Y to say two things are separate and shouldn’t be mixed, as in 工作是工作，生活是生活.
Say where things are with 左边 and 右边, give directions with 往左 and 往右, and name the left or right hand with 左手 and 右手.
Say that something must be done whether anyone wants to or not, as in 去也得去，不去也得去.
Describe how someone acts: unable to help it (不禁), in a hurry (赶忙), on purpose for someone (特地, 特意) or in secret (偷偷).
Say “try to, as much as possible” with 尽量 and “in person” with 亲自, and tell 亲自 apart from 自己.
Say someone did something on purpose with 故意, and that people do something to each other with 互相 or the more formal 相互.
Count keys, drops, flowers, doors, rolls and book volumes with the right measure word, and use 一番 for an action done with real effort.
Pick the right measure word for flat things, pairs, vehicles, lessons, sentences, prices, weights and quarter hours.
Count dozens with 打, bags with 袋, trees with 棵, machines with 台 and paintings with 幅 instead of falling back on 个.
Pick the right measure word for flowers, stars, pens, crowds, planes, glasses, episodes and more with the 15 noun measure words of HSK 5.
Make a careful guess with 似乎 (“it seems”) and describe what something feels like with 仿佛 (“as if”), and know when plain 好像 is better.
Say what someone needs to do, should do, is willing to do or has to do with 需要, 应该, 该, 愿意 and 得.
Say “anyway” with 反正, “not at all” with 根本, “absolutely” with 绝对, “for nothing” with 白, “just right” with 刚好, and add emphasis with 可.
Use 干脆 to make a quick “let’s just…” decision and 明明 to point out a clear fact that someone is ignoring.
Use 恰好 for a lucky coincidence, 倒是 for something unexpected or a “yes, but”, and 总算 for “finally” with relief.
Show your attitude in one word: 毕竟 for “after all”, 居然 for surprise, 果然 for “sure enough”, 的确 for “indeed”, 简直 for exaggeration and 反而 for “instead”.
Use 再也不 to say you will never do something again, and 再也没(有) to say something never happened again after a point in the past.
Say that something just won’t happen however hard you try, as in 我怎么也睡不着 and 我怎么找都没找到.
Say there’s no reason to worry, cry or argue with 没什么好担心的, and ask “what’s there to fear?” with 有什么好怕的.
Recognize and use the suffixes 家 (画家), 员 (服务员) and 子 (桌子), and know which one a word takes.
Count people, things and actions the Chinese way, with a measure word between the number and the noun: 三个人, 两本书, 去过一次.
Turn any number into “first, second, third” with 第, ask “which one?” with 第几, and know when Chinese shows order without 第.
Add a lively change with 啦, an “it’s obvious” or coaxing tone with 嘛, and accept options with 也好 or A也好，B也好.
Use 者 for “a person who”, 之 as a formal 的, 等 to end a list, and 就是(了) to say “just…, that’s all”.
Use 我, 你, 您, 他, 她, 它 and 大家 correctly as subject or object, choose polite 您, and greet a whole group with 大家.
Say who asks, invites or makes someone do something, as in 老师让我们读课文 and 这件事让我很高兴.
Describe what is in a place and how it is placed, like 桌子上放着一本书 or 门口站着两个人.
Add 们 to 我, 你, 他 and 她 to say “we”, “you all” and “they”, and know when 们 can follow a word for people.
Read and build words like 超大型, 多功能, 反方向, 无线, 亚热带 and 准大学生 by knowing what each prefix adds.
Say who you do something for with 为, who or where an action is aimed at with 向, and what something is about with 关于.
Use 给 to say who receives an action, like 给妈妈打电话, and 跟 to say who you do something with, like 跟朋友一起去.
Say “ever since” a past event with 自从, “toward” someone or somewhere with 朝, and “along” a road or river with 沿着.
Say where or when something starts with 自 and 由, set a moment with 当…的时候, describe change with 随着, and say “once…” with 等.
Use 别人 to talk about “other people” and 咱们 to say “we” in a way that always includes the person you’re talking to.
Say why you do something, “in order to” or “for the sake of”, with 为了, 为 and 为了…而…, and tell it apart from 因为.
Use 谁, 什么, 哪儿 and 怎么 to mean “anyone”, “anything”, “whatever” or “something” in statements, not questions.
Repeat the verb when it has both an object and a complement, as in 他说汉语说得很好 and 我看书看了两个小时.
Use (这)就是说, 也就是说 and 换句话说 to say an idea again in plainer words or spell out what it means.
Add 到, 住, 走 or 上 after a verb to show the result: found it, held it, took it away, or closed it.
Add 错, 懂, 好, 会 or 完 after a verb to say how an action turned out: 写错, 听懂, 做好, 学会, 吃完.
Use 不是……吗 to remind someone of a fact, insist on it, or show surprise when things don’t match what you expected.
Use question words to make strong statements, like 谁不想去？ “Who wouldn’t want to go?” and 我哪儿知道？ “How would I know?”
Use 难道……吗？ to show surprise or disbelief, as in 难道你不知道吗？ “Surely you know?”
Use 难道…吗？ to ask a question that shows surprise or disbelief, and 千万 to urge someone strongly, as in 千万别忘了.
Use 对……来说 to say what something is like for a particular person: easy, hard, new or important for them.
Use 可能 before a verb to say something might happen or might be true, and tell it apart from 可以 and 不可能.
Give totals with 共, say “all” with 全, “only” with 光, 仅 and 仅仅, and set a minimum with 至少.
Use 净 to complain that someone does nothing but one thing, 一同 to say people act together, and 大都 to say “most of them”.
Say “only”, “in total”, “everywhere” and “together” with 只, 就, 只是, 一共, 到处 and 一块儿.
Say complete sentences that have no subject at all, like 下雨了, 上课了, 有人找你 and 请进, without adding an English-style “it”.
Split verbs like 见面 and 放假 correctly: put 了, 过 or a number in the middle, and add the person with 跟.
Use everyday separable verbs like 睡觉, 上课, 上班, 说话 and 生病, and know what can go in the middle and what can’t follow them.
Use 从……起 to say that something starts at a certain time and carries on from then: 从明天起, 从下个月起.
Read and build words like 现代化, 中式, 新型 and 重要性 by knowing what each suffix adds, and stop mixing up 式 and 型.
Tell and ask the time in Chinese with 点, 分 and 半, use 一刻 and 差, and put the time before the verb.
Use 不A不B to say “neither too A nor too B” (不大不小) and recognise set phrases like 不慌不忙, 不知不觉 and 不见不散.
Recognise and use the neutral-tone suffix 头 in everyday nouns (木头), place words (里头) and “worth doing” nouns (没什么看头).
Use 老 + surname to address an older person you know well, and recognize 老 as a prefix in words like 老师 and 老二.
Add 面 to a direction word to make a full place word like 上面 “on top” or 外面 “outside” that can stand on its own.
Use 一时 for something you can’t do or did on impulse in a brief moment, and 不时 for an action that keeps happening every now and then.
Use 仍旧 and 依旧 to say something is still the same despite change, and 一向 to say something has always been true.
Say that something just happened, happened late, kept going, or will happen right away with 刚, 才, 一直, 马上, 先 and 一会儿.
Describe something that stays the same all along with 始终, a slow change with 渐渐, and what is coming with 即将, 尽快 and 早晚.
Say that something happens on schedule with 按时, and that you never do or have never done something with 从来不 and 从来没…过.
Talk about what you once did with 曾经, what happened long ago with 早已, what you always keep in mind with 时刻, and how fast someone acts with 立刻, 连忙 and 急忙.
Say how long it has been since something happened, as in 他来中国三年了 and 我们下课十分钟了.
Use verb + 得 + adjective to comment on how someone does something, like 他跑得很快 or 你说得很对.
Say where places are with 东, 南, 西, 北 and 中间, and talk about regions with 北方, 南方, 东方 and 西方.
Understand the three everyday uses of the pronoun 人家: other people, a specific person everyone knows about, and a playful way to say “me”.
Use 作为 to say what role you speak or act from, and 按 or 按照 to say which rule, plan or order you follow.
Use 像……似的 to say what something looks or seems like, as in 像没听见似的 “as if he hadn’t heard”.
Use 出, 起 and 下 after a verb to show a result: come up with (想出), recall (想起), and keep or fit (写下, 坐得下).
Use 各 and 各种 to talk about each member or every kind, 各位 to address a group politely, 任何 for “any at all”, and 此 in formal words like 因此.
Use 因为 with a short reason, like 因为这件事 or 因为生病, before the verb to say what caused something.
Use 将 as a formal 把, 由 to say who is in charge of a task, and 叫 or 让 as spoken passives like 被.
Use 第 to turn a number into an order word like “first” or “second”, and 小 to make a friendly name like 小王.
Use 把 to say what you do to something: where you put it (放在, 送到) or how it ends up (写完, 关上, 打扫得很干净).
Use 放着X不Y to criticize someone for ignoring something good that is right there, like an elevator, a job or a chance.
Say what someone dares or doesn’t dare to do with 敢 and 不敢, and tell 不敢 apart from 怕 and 不能.
Understand and use set phrases like 没完没了, 没日没夜 and 没大没小, and tell them apart from 不A不B phrases like 不大不小.
Use 甚至 to push a point to its most surprising case, and 不过 to add a soft “but” after a statement.
Use 用不着 to say there is no need to do something or no use for something, and 用得着……吗 to ask if it is really necessary.
Use (自从)……以来 to talk about a period from a past point until now, and 由……组成 to say what something is made up of.
Use 自己 to say “myself” or “yourself”, to stress that someone does something on their own, and 自己的 for “my own”.
Use 被 to say what happened to something, with or without saying who did it, and use 叫 and 让 for the same idea in casual speech.
Use 说A就A, as in 说走就走 and 说变就变, to say someone acts the moment they decide, or that something happens in an instant.
Use 说不定 for “maybe”, 不怎么 + verb or adjective for “not very”, and 不怎么样 for “not that great”.
Use question words in statements: 谁都知道 for “everyone knows”, 想吃什么就吃什么 for “whatever you like”, and 吃点儿什么 for “something”.
Point to people, things and places with 这, 那, 这个, 这些, 这儿 and 那里, and pick out “some” of a group with 有的 and 有些.
Say “so hot” with 这么热, “like this” with 这样做, “that kind of” with 那样的, and “every day” with 每天.
Use the written 除…外 to leave something out with 都, or to add something with 还 and 也.
Example Sentences
5 shown这两个词的 意思 很相似。
这个字的 意思 是什么？
你懂这个字的 意思 吗？
媒体歪曲了他的 意思 。
这个符号是什么 意思 ？
AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.