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March 24, 2026
故意gùyì(gu4yi4)
故意 (gù yì) means to do something deliberately or on purpose, emphasizing intention behind an action. It is commonly used in contexts where someone's actions are intentional rather than accidental, often carrying a negative connotation when referring to mischief or wrongdoing.
Frequency#1520DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of intention is significant, especially in moral discussions. People often scrutinize whether actions are performed 故意, reflecting a deeper examination of ethics and responsibility in interpersonal relationships.
Memory Tip
Think of '故意' as a 'goal' (故 - gù) with 'intention' (意 - yì). Imagine a character in a story who always has a specific goal in mind, making plans on purpose—this helps connect the idea of intentionality with the pronunciation 'gù yì'.
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AI Study Notes for 故意
Quick Contrast
故意 (gù yì) vs 有意 (yǒu yì) — use 故意 when emphasizing intentionality with a negative connotation, while 有意 implies intention without the negative context.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of '故意' as a 'goal' (故 - gù) with 'intention' (意 - yì). Imagine a character in a story who always has a specific goal in mind, making plans on purpose—this helps connect the idea of intentionality with the pronunciation 'gù yì'.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 故意 with the similar-sounding words that imply unintentional actions, such as '无意' (wú yì). This term is primarily used in informal contexts, but can also appear in formal discussions about behavior, especially in legal or moral contexts.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 故意 connects with other words related to intention and action, such as '目的' (mù dì, purpose) and '计划' (jì huà, plan). Focus on using it in sentences that express clear motives or intentions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of intention is significant, especially in moral discussions. People often scrutinize whether actions are performed 故意, reflecting a deeper examination of ethics and responsibility in interpersonal relationships.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 故意 by confusing it with similar expressions. For example, saying '我无意这样做' (wǒ wú yì zhè yàng zuò) instead of '我故意这样做' (wǒ gù yì zhè yàng zuò) changes the meaning from 'I did this unintentionally' to 'I did this intentionally.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 故意
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Grammar Patterns of 故意
故意 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 2 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.
In Chinese culture, the concept of intention is significant, especially in moral discussions. People often scrutinize whether actions are performed 故意, reflecting a deeper examination of ethics and responsibility in interpersonal relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions about 故意
You can say, '他故意迟到' (Tā gù yì chí dào), meaning 'He is deliberately late.'
While it often carries a negative connotation, it can also be used in neutral contexts to simply indicate intentionality.
Yes, but be aware of the context; it's often better suited for informal discussions.
