本意

běnyì

noun HSK 7 #8,523

Meanings

1 original intention
2 real intention

Characters

meaning; intention

Examples

我的本意是好的。

Wǒ de běnyì shì hǎo de.

My original intention was good.

他的本意并不是伤害你。

Tā de běnyì bìng bù shì shānghài nǐ.

His intention was not to hurt you.

Tips

usage

本意 focuses on the original/true intention behind an action. Compare with 故意 (gùyì, deliberately) and 好意 (hǎoyì, good intentions).

Stroke Order

本 běn

意 yì