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意向 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
意向yìxiàngintentionHSK 7, n, rank #19057, Hard
意向yìxiàngpurposeHSK 7, n, rank #19057, Hard
意向yìxiàngintentHSK 7, n, rank #19057, Hard
意向yìxiànginclinationHSK 7, n, rank #19057, Hard
意向yìxiàngdispositionHSK 7, n, rank #19057, Hard
yìxiàng(yi4xiang4) T4
  1. 1intention
  2. 2purpose
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
意向yìxiàng(yi4xiang4)

意向 refers to a person's intention or purpose behind their actions or decisions. It is often used in formal contexts, such as business negotiations or legal documents, to signify the underlying motivation or desired outcome of a proposal or agreement.

Frequency#19057DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese business culture, expressing your 意向 clearly is crucial for building trust and establishing relationships. It reflects a person's seriousness and commitment to negotiations.

Memory Tip

Think of 意 (yì) as 'meaning' and 向 (xiàng) as 'direction.' Together, they represent the 'direction of one's meaning' or intention. Imagine a compass pointing towards your goals, symbolizing your意向.

Meanings of 意向

yìxiàng(yi4xiang4)
1intention
2purpose
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 意向

意向Simplified
Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#19057Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 意向

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Podcast: 意向

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AI Study Notes for 意向

Quick Contrast

意图 (yìtú) — use 意向 for formal contexts like negotiations, while 意图 is more general and can imply a broader range of intentions.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 意 (yì) as 'meaning' and 向 (xiàng) as 'direction.' Together, they represent the 'direction of one's meaning' or intention. Imagine a compass pointing towards your goals, symbolizing your意向.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 意向 with similar terms like 意思 (yìsi), which means 'meaning' or 'opinion.' 意向 is more formal and often used in written contexts. Common collocations include '表达意向' (to express intention) and '商业意向' (business intent).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, focus on how 意向 can be used in complex sentences. It connects well with other words related to intention and decision-making, such as 决定 (juédìng, to decide) and 计划 (jìhuà, plan). Understand its usage in formal discussions.

Cultural Note

In Chinese business culture, expressing your 意向 clearly is crucial for building trust and establishing relationships. It reflects a person's seriousness and commitment to negotiations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often use 意向 interchangeably with 意图 (yìtú), which means 'intention' but has a more negative nuance. For example, saying '他的意图很明显' (His intention is obvious) would be inappropriate when referring to a positive intent, as it implies ulterior motives.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 意向

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Component Characters

Italy
HSK 313 strokes
View full entry
xiàngtowards
HSK 36 strokes
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Write 意向

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

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Grammar Patterns of 意向

意向 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 5 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.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

好,那么我们已经一致同____北走了?

Okay, so are we agreed on going north?

Example Sentences for 意向 (1)

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1
好,那么我们已经一致同意向北走了?

hǎo, , nà mó wǒ mén yǐ jīng yī zhì tóng yì xiàng běi zǒu?

Okay, so are we agreed on going north?

Cultural Notes for 意向

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese business culture, expressing your 意向 clearly is crucial for building trust and establishing relationships. It reflects a person's seriousness and commitment to negotiations.

Frequently Asked Questions about 意向

You can say '我对这个项目的意向很明确' (My intention regarding this project is very clear).