意

yì

心 + 音

Definitions

yì (noun) meaning; idea; thought

yì (verb) to think; to intend; to wish; to desire

Yì (noun) Italy

Etymology

Thought (意) is the sound (音) that comes from the mind (心). (Oversimplified for brevity. The 音 component in this character has a complicated history.)

Semantic: 心 Phonetic: 音

About

The character 意 is an ideogramic compound formed by placing 音 (sound, voice) above the radical 心 (heart, mind). This structure visually represents the concept of thoughts or intentions voiced from the heart, which was traditionally regarded as the seat of intellect and emotion in Chinese philosophy. Its core meanings include intention, thought, meaning, and consciousness, the internal cognitive processes that precede outward expression. Over time, its semantic range broadened to cover the significance of words and actions, personal inclinations, and general desires. Consequently, 意 is a key component in many compound words related to opinion, willpower, translation, and understanding abstract concepts.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个主意真不错。

Zhè ge zhǔyì zhēn bùcuò.

This idea is really good.

你明白我的意思吗？

Nǐ míngbai wǒ de yìsi ma?

Do you understand what I mean?

请注意脚下安全。

Qǐng zhùyì jiǎoxià ānquán.

Please watch your step for safety.

我对这个计划有意见。

Wǒ duì zhège jìhuà yǒu yìjiàn.

I have some opinions about this plan.

他的到来是个意外。

Tā de dàolái shì gè yìwài.

His arrival was an accident.

这本书很有教育意义。

Zhè běn shū hěn yǒu jiàoyù yìyì.

This book is very educational.

他的沉默意味着不同意。

Tā de chénmò yìwèizhe bù tóngyì.

His silence means he disagrees.

要警惕错误意识形态的影响。

Yào jǐngtì cuòwù yìshí xíngtài de yǐngxiǎng.

We must be vigilant against the influence of erroneous ideologies.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 心

Component: 音

意