TongTong
Sign in

旨意 (zhǐ yì) — decree; official order; will; intention

Definition

A formal noun for an official 'decree' or stated 'intention/will' — typically from a superior such as an emperor, parent, or organization. Much more formal than ordinary words for 'order' or 'intention'.

noun
decreeofficial orderwillintention

Examples

  • 旨意。
    Huáng dì de zhǐ yì wú rén gǎn wéi kàng.
    No one dared to disobey the emperor's decree.
  • 旨意。
    Tā gēn jù fù qīn shēng qián de zhǐ yì chǔ lǐ le yí chǎn.
    He handled the inheritance according to his father's will.
  • 旨意。
    Zhè fèn wén jiàn dài biǎo le gōng sī de zuì zhōng zhǐ yì.
    This document represents the company's final intention.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

旨zhǐdecree
意yìintention

旨 means decree or will, and 意 means intention; the two near-synonyms combine to name a decree or intention.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
甘甘gāndelicious
Sound part声符shēngfú
匕
匕bǐ旨zhǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

旨 combines 甘, meaning delicious, with 匕, a spoon used to taste food; 匕 also gives the sound.

Open 旨 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 意 →
Appears in
Government & PoliticsWill & Intention

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.