要义

要義

yàoyì

noun #35,349

Meanings

1 essentials
2 key points
3 main ideas (of a text or doctrine)

Characters

important, essential

meaning, righteousness

Examples

他抓住了文章的要义。

Tā zhuāzhùle wénzhāng de yàoyì.

He grasped the essentials of the article.

这本书阐述了佛教的要义。

Zhè běn shū chǎnshùle Fójiào de yàoyì.

This book explains the essentials of Buddhism.

Tips

register

Formal, slightly literary. Often seen in titles of philosophical or doctrinal expositions — e.g. 《佛教要义》 (Essentials of Buddhism), 《宪法要义》 (Essentials of Constitutional Law). Compare 要点 (yàodiǎn, key points, more colloquial) and 精髓 (jīngsuǐ, the very essence/marrow).

Stroke Order

要 yào

义 yì