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用意 (yòng yì) — intention, purpose

Definition

用意 (yòngyì) is the hidden reason or motive behind an action or remark. Closer to 'intention' than 目的 ('goal/aim'): 用意 implies an underlying motive, while 目的 is the concrete target you aim for.

noun
intentionpurpose

Examples

  • 用意，。
    Tā de yòng yì hěn míng xiǎn, jiù shì xiǎng dé dào zhè fèn gōng zuò.
    His intention is very clear: he just wants to get this job.
  • 用意。
    Wǒ bù qīng chǔ tā zhè yàng shuō de yòng yì shì shén me.
    I'm not clear what her intention is in saying this.
  • ，用意。
    Zuò zhè jiàn shì zhī qián, nǐ yào xiān xiǎng qīng chǔ zì jǐ de yòng yì.
    Before doing this, you should first think clearly about your own purpose.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

用yònguse
意yìintention

用 (“use”) and 意 (“intention”) together denote the intention itself, the purpose one has.

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.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 意 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Will & Intention

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