意思yì simeaning
意思 (yì si) means "meaning," as in 这个字是什么意思 (What does this character mean), 我不明白你的意思 (I don't understand your meaning) and 你知道这个字的意思吗 (Do you know the meaning of this character). In all three, 意思 means meaning. This entry covers this one sense.
What does 意思 mean?
- 1.
meaningnoun
What do the characters in 意思 mean?
- 意meaning
- 思not compositional here
How do you use 意思?
See it in 这个字是什么意思, 我不明白你的意思 and 你知道这个字的意思吗.
Patterns
……是什么意思?
这个字是什么意思?
Zhège zì shì shénme yì si?
What does this character mean?
What are some examples of 意思 in a sentence?
How is 意思 used in a conversation?
- Speaker A:
这个字是什么意思?
Zhège zì shì shénme yìsi?
What does this character mean?
- Speaker B:
我也不知道。
Wǒ yě bù zhīdào.
I don't know either.
- Speaker A:
我们去问老师吧。
Wǒmen qù wèn lǎoshī ba.
Let's go ask the teacher.
- Speaker B:
好。
Hǎo.
OK.
Can you use 意思 correctly?
0 of 3 answeredWhat should you learn next?
- Free HSK 3 level testSee which HSK 3.0 level your vocabulary matches.
- HSK 2 word listEvery word at this level, with examples.
- HSK 3.0 guideHow the nine levels and three bands work.
Related words
- 明白míng baito understand; to realizeHSK 3
- 知道zhī dàoto know; to become aware ofHSK 1
- 说shuōto speak; to talk; to sayHSK 1
- 有意思yǒu yì siinterestingHSK 2
- 同意tóng yìto agreeHSK 3
- 愿意yuàn yìwilling (to do sth)HSK 3
Browse every entry in the Chinese word dictionary.
English glosses on this page are adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG (snapshot 2026-10-23), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Glosses were edited for learners.