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意思 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
意思yìsiideaHSK 2, n, rank #215, Medium
意思yìsiopinionHSK 2, n, rank #215, Medium
意思yìsimeaningHSK 2, n, rank #215, Medium
意思yìsiwishHSK 2, n, rank #215, Medium
意思yìsidesireHSK 2, n, rank #215, Medium
意思yìsiinterestHSK 2, n, rank #215, Medium
意思yìsifunHSK 2, n, rank #215, Medium
意思yìsitoken of appreciation, affection etcHSK 2, n, rank #215, Medium
意思yìsi>个[gè]HSK 2, n, rank #215, Medium
意思yìsito give as a small tokenHSK 2, n, rank #215, Medium
意思yìsito do sth as a gesture of goodwill etcHSK 2, n, rank #215, Medium
yìsi(yi4si5) T4
  1. 1idea
  2. 2opinion
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
意思yìsi(yi4si5)

The word '意思' (yìsi) primarily means 'meaning' or 'idea.' It is commonly used to express opinions or wishes and can also denote interest or affection in various contexts. For instance, you might ask for the '意思' of a phrase to clarify its meaning or use it to convey a thoughtful gesture.

Frequency#215DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

'意思' is often used in Chinese culture to express subtlety in communication, such as when giving gifts. The phrase '有意思' (yǒu yìsi) means 'interesting,' showing that the Chinese value engaging and thoughtful interactions.

Memory Tip

'意思' (yìsi) sounds like 'easy' in English. Imagine someone saying, 'What does this easy idea mean to you?' The character '意' (yì) resembles a heart, suggesting 'thought' or 'meaning,' while '思' (sī) looks like a person deep in thought, emphasizing contemplation.

Meanings of 意思

yìsi(yi4si5)
1idea
2opinion
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 意思

意思Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#215Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 意思

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Podcast: 意思

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AI Study Notes for 意思

Quick Contrast

意思 (yìsi) vs 观念 (guānniàn) — use 意思 for specific meanings or interpretations, while 观念 refers to broader concepts or beliefs.

Memory Mnemonic

'意思' (yìsi) sounds like 'easy' in English. Imagine someone saying, 'What does this easy idea mean to you?' The character '意' (yì) resembles a heart, suggesting 'thought' or 'meaning,' while '思' (sī) looks like a person deep in thought, emphasizing contemplation.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse '意思' with similar-sounding words. It is generally informal, so it is better suited for everyday conversations rather than formal writing. Common collocations include '这个意思' (this meaning) and '我的意思是' (what I mean is).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 2 word, '意思' connects with other basic vocabulary about feelings and opinions. Students should focus on using it in sentences to express personal thoughts or inquiries about meanings, enhancing their conversational skills.

Cultural Note

'意思' is often used in Chinese culture to express subtlety in communication, such as when giving gifts. The phrase '有意思' (yǒu yìsi) means 'interesting,' showing that the Chinese value engaging and thoughtful interactions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use '意思' in overly formal contexts, like writing essays. Instead of saying '这个句子有意思' (this sentence has meaning), it is more natural to say '这个句子有意思' (this sentence is interesting).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 意思

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Component Characters

意yìItaly
HSK 313 strokes心
View full entry
思sīto think
HSK 59 strokes心
View full entry

Write 意思

意
思

Practice writing 意思 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 意思

意思 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 11 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons6
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

这本书很有____。

This book is very interesting.

Example Sentences for 意思 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
“你什么意思啊？”我问，替利迪感到愤愤不平。

“ “ nǐ shí mó yì sī？” ā ？”， wǒ wèn ， tì lì dí gǎn dào fèn。

"What do you mean?" I asked, offended on Liddie's behalf.
2
她有点自命不凡，你明白我的意思吧？

tā yǒu diǎn zì mìng bù fán， ， nǐ míng bái wǒ de yì sī？

She was a bit stuck up, know what I mean?
3
雷切尔从沙发上猛地往前一欠身子。——“你的意思是你已经抓到了皮特？”

léi qiē ěr cóng shā fā shàng měng dì wǎng qián yī qiàn shēn zǐ。——“ 。——“ nǐ de yì sī shì nǐ yǐ jīng zhuā dào le pí？”

Rachel started forward on the sofa. — "You mean you've arrested Pete?"
4
图尔金拍拍他的肩膀。“不好意思打断您一下，上校。”

tú ěr jīn pāi pāi tā de jiān bǎng。“ 。“ bù hǎo yì sī dǎ duàn nín yī， xià ，。”

Turkin tapped him on the shoulder. "Sorry to interrupt, Colonel."
5
我根本不知道他是什么意思。

wǒ gēn běn bù zhī dào tā shì shí mó yì sī。

I did not have the foggiest idea what he meant.
6
有什么烦心事吗？我的意思是，除了这件事以外还有吗？

yǒu shí mó fán xīn shì ma？ ？ wǒ de yì sī， shì ， chú le zhè jiàn shì yǐ wài huán？

Is something upsetting you—I mean, apart from this business?
7
他日语说得不太好,但尚能表达清楚自己的意思.

tā rì yǔ shuō dé bù tài hǎo, , dàn shàng néng biǎo dá qīng chǔ zì jǐ de yì.

He doesn't speak much Japanese but he can make himself understood.
8
那意思我没听懂。

nà yì sī wǒ méi tīng dǒng。

The meaning of that was lost on me.
9
“我们知道那是什么意思，”罗伯特心里暗自好笑。

“ “ wǒ mén zhī dào nà shì shí mó yì，” sī ，” luó bó tè xīn lǐ àn zì。

"We know what that means," Robert sniggered.
10
菲利普·拉金的意思是：父母可能会严重损害你的健康。

fēi lì pǔ· · lā jīn de yì sī： shì ： fù mǔ kě néng huì yán zhòng sǔn hài nǐ de。

Parents, to paraphrase Philip Larkin, can seriously damage your health.

Cultural Notes for 意思

🏮Cultural insight

'意思' is often used in Chinese culture to express subtlety in communication, such as when giving gifts. The phrase '有意思' (yǒu yìsi) means 'interesting,' showing that the Chinese value engaging and thoughtful interactions.

Frequently Asked Questions about 意思

'意思' can be used to ask for clarification, like '这句话的意思是什么?' (What does this sentence mean?).