致意 (zhì yì) — to send one's greetings, to extend regards, to…

Definition

A formal verb meaning 'to send one's regards / pay respects,' usually in writing or at ceremonies. Takes a recipient introduced by 向 (e.g. 向…致意).

verb

to send one's greetingsto extend regardsto pay respects (formal)

致意。
Tā xiàng zài chǎng de lái bīn yī yī zhì yì.
He extended his greetings to every guest present.
，。
Huì yì jié shù shí, zhǔ xí xiàng quán tǐ dài biǎo zhì le yì.
At the end of the meeting, the chairperson paid respects to all delegates.
致意。
Qǐng dài wǒ xiàng nín jiā rén zhì yì.
Please send my regards to your family.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

致zhìsend/express

意yìregards/attention

致意 pairs 致 (to send/express) with 意 (regards), meaning to send one's greetings.

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.

至攵致

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攵Written in full as攴pū

Sound part声符shēngfú

至

Same sound today

致 pairs 至, used for its sound, with 攵, written in full as 攴.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Appears in