noun #1,424

Meanings

  1. 1 idea; thought; meaning
  2. 2 intention; wish

Examples

HSK 2
Nǐ shì shénme yìsi?
What do you mean?
HSK 3
Zhùyì ānquán!
Pay attention to safety!
HSK 3
Zhège lǐwù hěn yǒu yìyì.
This gift is very meaningful.

Tips

usage
is in countless essential words: 意思 (meaning), 注意 (to pay attention), 愿意 (willing), 意见 (opinion), 有意思 (interesting), 不好意思 (sorry/embarrassed), 意义 (significance), 满意 (satisfied).

Components

radical
xīn
heart; mind
Bottom heart radical (Kangxi #61) - the indexing radical, a stylised picture of the heart organ. Anchors the mental-state semantics: covers ideas, intentions, thoughts, meaning, will (注意 attention, 意见 opinion, 同意 agree, 主意 plan). Same radical groups , , , - the bottom-position family of mental verbs.
semantic
yīn
sound; tone
Top (sound) - provides the semantic anchor: thoughts and intentions are the unspoken sounds of the heart. The compound is a classic 会意 (compound ideograph): sound () over heart () = the heart's sound = idea, intention, meaning. Same standalone means 'sound, tone, music.'

Stroke Order