意
味

About

The word 意味 is formed through the conceptual combination of its two component characters: 意 (yì), which carries the core idea of "meaning", "intention", or "thought", and 味 (wèi), which fundamentally means "flavor" or "taste". They merge not as a simple sum but through a metaphorical process, where the abstract notion of significance (意) is given a sensory, experiential quality (味), resulting in a compound that conveys "implied meaning", "significance", or the "feeling and depth" behind something, as if meaning itself has a flavor or tone to be savored and interpreted.

Example Sentences Hide

他的笑容意味着友好。

Tā de xiàoróng yìwèizhe yǒuhǎo.

His smile means friendliness.

沉默往往意味着同意。

Chénmò wǎngwǎng yìwèizhe tóngyì.

Silence often means agreement.

他的离开意味着项目将延期。

Tā de líkāi yìwèizhe xiàngmù jiāng yánqī.

His departure means the project will be delayed.

这项改革意味着公司未来方向的重大调整。

Zhè xiàng gǎigé yìwèizhe gōngsī wèilái fāngxiàng de zhòngdà tiáozhěng.

This reform means a major adjustment in the company's future direction.

从历史角度看，这一事件意味着旧时代的终结和新纪元的开端。

Cóng lìshǐ jiǎodù kàn, zhè yī shìjiàn yìwèizhe jiù shídài de zhōngjié hé xīn jìyuán de kāiduān.

From a historical perspective, this event means the end of the old era and the beginning of a new epoch.

Word Definition - 意味

yì wèi meaning; implication; flavor; overtone; to mean; to imply; (Tw) to get a sense of

Individual Character Details

意 yì, yì
味 wèi