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意向 (yì xiàng) — intention, intent; inclination, disposition

Definition

意向 is a formal, written noun for 'intention' or 'inclination' — stronger and more deliberate than the casual 念头 (a passing thought). Use 意图 when emphasizing a deliberate plan, and 用意 when the focus is the underlying purpose.

noun
intentionintentinclinationdisposition

Examples

  • 意向，。
    Tā de yì xiàng hěn míng què, jiù shì bù xiǎng gǎi biàn jì huà.
    His intention is very clear: he doesn't want to change the plan.
  • 意向，。
    Shuāng fāng dá chéng le hé zuò yì xiàng, dàn hái méi qiān zhèng shì xié yì.
    The two sides reached a cooperation intention, but haven't signed a formal agreement yet.
  • 意向。
    Tóu piào jié guǒ xiǎn shì le xuǎn mín de yì xiàng.
    The voting results showed the voters' inclination.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

意yìintention
向xiàngdirection

The 向 direction taken by 意 intention gives the sense of inclination.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 意 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

向 originally drew 宀 (house) with 口 to show an echo in a place; later it was used for direction.

Open 向 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Will & Intention

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