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意味着 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
意味着yìwèizheto signifyHSK 5, v, rank #1032, Hard
意味着yìwèizheto meanHSK 5, v, rank #1032, Hard
意味着yìwèizheto implyHSK 5, v, rank #1032, Hard
yìwèizhe(yi4wei4zhe5) T4
  1. 1to signify
  2. 2to mean
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
意味着(意味著)yìwèizhe(yi4wei4zhe5)

意味着 is a verb that means 'to signify' or 'to imply'. It is commonly used to express the idea that something indicates or represents another concept, often in a deeper or more abstract sense. For example, you might use it to explain the implications of a decision or the meaning behind a symbol.

Frequency#1032DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, understanding the implications of words or actions is crucial, as context often carries significant weight in communication. This reflects the importance of subtlety and indirectness in social interactions.

Memory Tip

Think of 意 (yi4) as 'meaning' and 着 (zhe5) as 'continuing'. Picture a light bulb (意) that stays on (着) to signify that an idea is present. When something is 'on', it implies a message or significance.

Meanings of 意味着

yìwèizhe(yi4wei4zhe5)
1to signify
2to mean
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 意味着

意味着Simplified
意味著Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1032Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 意味着

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Podcast: 意味着

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AI Study Notes for 意味着

Quick Contrast

意味着 (yìwèizhe) vs 代表 (dàibiǎo) — use 意味着 when focusing on implications or deeper meanings, while 代表 emphasizes representation or standing for something.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 意 (yi4) as 'meaning' and 着 (zhe5) as 'continuing'. Picture a light bulb (意) that stays on (着) to signify that an idea is present. When something is 'on', it implies a message or significance.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 意味着 with simpler verbs like 意思 (yìsi), which means 'meaning' but is more straightforward. This word is often used in formal contexts, and can be paired with words like '变化' (biànhuà - change) to discuss implications. Keep an eye on the tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 意味着 connects with other abstract and complex vocabulary at this level, allowing students to express nuanced meanings and implications. Focus on using it in sentences that discuss concepts, decisions, or symbols to deepen understanding.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, understanding the implications of words or actions is crucial, as context often carries significant weight in communication. This reflects the importance of subtlety and indirectness in social interactions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 意味着 in casual contexts where a simpler term like 意思 would suffice. For example, saying '这个字的意味着很简单' (The meaning of this character is very simple) is incorrect; it should be '这个字的意思很简单'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 意味着

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Component Characters

意yìItaly
HSK 313 strokes心
View full entry
味wèitaste
HSK 48 strokes口
View full entry
着zheaspect particle indicating action in progress
HSK 211 strokes目
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Write 意味着

意
味
着

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

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Grammar Patterns of 意味着

意味着 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 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 4

Complete the Sentence

这就____，至少所有的选择都已经摆到了桌面上。

It means that all the options are at least on the table.

Example Sentences for 意味着 (10)

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1
这就意味着，至少所有的选择都已经摆到了桌面上。

zhè jiù yì wèi zháo， ， zhì shǎo suǒ yǒu de xuǎn zé dū yǐ jīng bǎi dào le zhuō miàn。

It means that all the options are at least on the table.
2
但那并不意味着这种政治主张已经或正在消亡。

dàn nà bìng bù yì wèi zháo zhè zhǒng zhèng zhì zhǔ zhāng yǐ jīng huò zhèng zài xiāo wáng。

But that doesn't mean this brand of politics is dead or dying.
3
那意味着几个月的激烈谈判开始了。

nà yì wèi zháo jī gè yuè de jī liè tán pàn kāi shǐ le。

That was the cue for several months of intense bargaining.
4
那是不是意味着你将不再谈论那个话题了？

nà shì bù shì yì wèi zháo nǐ jiāng bù zài tán lùn nà gè huà tí le？

Does that mean you're going to drop the subject?
5
“那就意味着我们要今天搬出去，同意吗？”——“同意。”

“ “ nà jiù yì wèi zháo wǒ mén yào jīn tiān bān chū， qù ， tóng？”——“ yì ma。”

"That means we move out today. Agreed?"—"Agreed."
6
那意味着整个房子正在下陷吗？

nà yì wèi zháo zhěng gè fáng zǐ zhèng zài xià xiàn ma？

Does that mean the whole house is subsiding?
7
结束这段感情并不意味着这种殴打伤害就会停止。

jié shù zhè duàn gǎn qíng bìng bù yì wèi zháo zhè zhǒng ōu dǎ shāng hài jiù huì tíng zhǐ。

Leaving the relationship does not mean that the battering will stop.
8
要求忠诚意味着你想发展一段严肃认真的恋爱关系。

yào qiú zhōng chéng yì wèi zháo nǐ xiǎng fā zhǎn yī duàn yán sù rèn zhēn de liàn ài guān xì。

Wanting fidelity implies you're thinking about a major relationship.
9
关于这对其他人意味着什么，他一无所知，这一点颇不寻常。

guān yú zhè duì qí tā rén yì wèi zháo shí mó， ， tā yī wú suǒ， zhī ， zhè yī diǎn pō bù。

He's curiously innocent about what this means to other people.
10
买价钱经济的家具并不意味着就要牺牲质量和样式。

mǎi jià qián jīng jì de jiā jù bìng bù yì wèi zháo jiù yào xī shēng zhì liáng hé yàng shì。

Buying budget-priced furniture needn't mean compromising on quality or style.

Cultural Notes for 意味着

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, understanding the implications of words or actions is crucial, as context often carries significant weight in communication. This reflects the importance of subtlety and indirectness in social interactions.

Frequently Asked Questions about 意味着

You can use it like this: '这件事情意味着很多' (This matter signifies a lot).